Apple Drops Russia’s Largest Social Media Network From App Store

The logo of Russian social media platform VK (formerly VKontakte) during the St Petersburg International Economic Forum (SPIEF) at the ExpoForum convention and exhibition centre in Saint Petersburg, Russia, on June 15, 2022. Olga Maltseva/AFP via Getty Images

Apple Inc. has removed VKontakte, a popular social networking application in Russia, according to a statement from VK, the company behind the platform.

What Happened

The statement, first noted on The Verge, said that some VK applications were blocked by Apple and unavailable to download and update on the App Store.

The statement said that VK applications already installed on smartphones continued to work.

Russia’s Ministry of Digital Affairs said it was investigating Apple’s “reasons for deleting VK applications and developer accounts,” reported The Verge, quoting state media outlet RT.

VK applications reportedly continue to be available on Alphabet Inc.’s Google Play Store on Android.

Apple and VK did not immediately respond to Benzinga’s request for comment.

Why It Matters

Statista data indicates VKontakte was the most used social media platform in Russia as of June 2022. The platform enjoyed a 67 million-strong user base.

Recently, it was reported that the newly launched iPhone 14 will be available in Russia despite the Tim Cook-led company’s exit from the country thanks to a parallel imports scheme.

Russia labeled VK competitor Meta Platforms Inc. as an “extremist” organization in March 2022, reported Reuters.

Meta operates Facebook and Instagram platforms, both of which were banned in Russia in the wake of the country’s invasion of neighboring Ukraine.

By Shivdeep Dhaliwal

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