The removal of VK applications by the Ministry of Digital…
The removal of VK applications by the Ministry of Digital Development was also described as an example of unfair competition. The Ministry characterized the removal of VK apps from the App Store as a politically motivated decision.
Consensus
- Apple removed VK applications from the App Store without providing substantiated sanctions-related reasons.
- The removal affected multiple VK applications including the main VK app, VK Video, VK Music, VK Messenger, and OK (Odnoklassniki).
- Minciфры stated that Apple ignored the social significance of these apps, which are used for informing, communicating, and educating Russians.
- Minciфры accused Apple of engaging in unfair competition to protect foreign platforms from Russian apps.
- Minciфры requested the Federal Antimonopoly Service (FAS) to review the situation urgently.
Points of divergence
- Minciфры did not receive any argumentative position from Apple regarding sanction requirements. — vm
- Apple did not provide any justification for the removal of VK apps, and the removal was characterized as politically motivated. — meduza
- Apple does not allow default search engine selection or pre-installing a Russian app store on its devices. — meduza
- VK stated that it had never been sanctioned and that Apple's actions limit access to services used by millions of Russians. — meduza
- Dmitry Peskov, Kremlin spokesperson, questioned the reliability of Apple's services and suggested switching to Android or Russian alternatives. — meduza
- Minciфры confirmed the absence of grounds for blocking VK apps based on legal opinions from American law firms. — tvrain
Coverage (4 sources)
- Russia's Ministry of Digital Development Calls VK's Removal from App Store a 'Politically Motivated Decision' — Вечерняя Москва
- Ministry of Digital Affairs calls VK's removal from AppStore a 'politically motivated decision' — Meduza
- Ministry of Digital Affairs calls the removal of VK apps from the App Store a 'politically motivated decision' — Дождь
- Peskov recommends active VK users switch to 'our systems' and Android — Дождь
Key entities
- Apple
- Dmitry Peskov
- Ministry of Digital Development
- App Store
- Russia
- App
- Ministry of Digital Development
- Ministry of Digital Development
- Ministry
- App Store
- Ministry of Digital Development, Communications and Mass Media
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