App Store CensorshipIt took Roskomnadzor less than a week to remove an app from the Apple App Store
Last week, we launched "Tochka Dostupa" (which translates as "Access Point" from Russian) – a mobile platform that streams live TV and radio for users facing internet censorship and YouTube slowdowns. The app includes DW in Russian, Current Time TV, and Russian Radio Liberty—outlets classified as “undesirable” or “foreign agents” and blocked in Russia.
It took Roskomnadzor less than a week to force the removal of our app from the Apple App Store. This was likely the fastest app removal in Roskomnadzor's portfolio.
Timeline
September 15, 2025: Tochka Dostupa launched on Google Play and Apple App Store.
September 17, 2025: Articles published on Radio Svoboda and Current Time.
September 18, 2025: The app's website blocked in Russia.
September 22, 2025: Apple's App Review team sent a notification about app removal from the Russian Store,following a demand from Roskomnadzor.
September 23, 2025: Tochka Dostupa is no longer available in the Russian App Store.
The Upside
This case highlights the quality of our work. The platform clearly serves a real need: people used and appreciated the app despite minor glitches. These issues seem related to aggressive mobile internet filtering in Russia and the rollout of updated whitelists.
The app’s availability in Russia was tracked using the NRTK Pulse service, which I recently launched. In both cases—the website block and app removal—the service notified me in real time.
NRTK Pulse offers comprehensive monitoring for websites, mobile apps, APIs, and more. It enables testing from various regions and networks, drawing on years of expertise in internet censorship and circumvention.
Want to learn more about NRTK Pulse? Submit this form.
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© 2025 Mikhail Ageev
