Apple frustrated with Russia over social media ban

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Apple frustrated with Russia over social media ban

U.S. tech company Apple Inc. has been frustrated with Moscow this week after its top social network and communications sites were removed from the app store, blocking millions from future communication on these platforms across Russia.

Russia s Federal Communications Regulator, Roskomnadzor, demanded answers Wednesday as to why applications operated by Russian state-controlled tech firm VK had been targeted by the U.S. tech giant.

According to Apple, the move was not a matter of politics, but rather a step taken to ensure that it was in compliance with the sanctions enforced by the U.K.

VK operates a Facebook-like social media platform, known as Vkontakte, with more than 75 million monthly users along with Mail.ru.

Apple said both apps were distributed by developers that are majority owned or majority-controlled by parties sanctioned by the U.K.

VK CEO Vladimir Kiriyenko is reportedly under U.K. sanctions along with Sergei Kiriyenko, his father, who serves as President Vladimir Putin's first deputy chief of staff.

Roskomnadzor called the restrictions discriminatory and claimed that the move violated millions of users' right to free information and communication through the internet.

Russia has blocked U.S. social media companies like Twitter, Facebook and Instagram to limit user communication freedoms.

Both vkontakte and mail.ru must be downloaded on phones at the time of purchase so users who already have access to the apps devices where they were previously installed will be able to keep using them.

The newest restrictions will only apply to those who purchase new phones, according to a report by Reuters.

After Russia invaded Ukraine earlier this year, Apple has removed several sites from its stores, including the airline Aeroflot and top banks like Sberbank and VTB.