By Apple App Store Monopoly Under Fire in Major Privacy Lawsuit by Proton
In a landmark legal move, Swiss-based privacy company Proton has filed a federal lawsuit targeting the Apple App Store monopoly, accusing the tech giant of enabling global censorship and suppressing privacy-focused apps. Filed on June 30 in a California federal court, the 73-page complaint outlines how Apple’s tight control over app distribution on iOS has made it a gatekeeper of information—and a willing participant in authoritarian censorship worldwide.
Global Censorship Allegations Against Apple’s App Store Monopoly
At the core of Proton’s complaint is the accusation that Apple’s control of iPhone app distribution enables governments with authoritarian tendencies to block access to critical digital tools. According to the filing, 66 of the world’s 100 most-used apps are unavailable on iPhones in China, and all 240 VPN apps tested are similarly blocked.
VPNs are essential tools for users in censored regions to bypass firewalls and access independent media and global information. The lawsuit highlights Apple’s compliance with these bans as part of a larger pattern of suppressing digital freedom.
Proton’s Own Struggles with App Store Restrictions
Proton, which offers encrypted email and VPN services to over 100 million users in 180 countries, revealed that Apple had threatened to remove its VPN app from the App Store unless the company stopped advertising its ability to “unblock censored websites.”
This ultimatum forced Proton into a difficult choice: self-censor its marketing or risk losing access to iOS users altogether. According to Proton, this behavior underscores Apple’s monopoly power and its complicity in global digital suppression.
Historical Examples of App Removal on Authoritarian Demand
The lawsuit provides specific instances of Apple removing apps at the request of governments:
- In 2019, Apple removed the HKmap.Live app during the Hong Kong pro-democracy protests, despite widespread international criticism.
- In 2023, Apple removed dozens of VPN apps from its Russian App Store, at a time when Russian citizens were turning to VPNs to access independent news amidst media crackdowns.
Proton argues these actions show how Apple’s monopolistic control forces developers to comply with censorship rules or face delisting—essentially making them unwilling accomplices in repression.
Apple’s 30% App Store Tax Called Out as Harmful to Privacy Services
Beyond censorship, the lawsuit also challenges Apple’s 30% commission on app payments, calling it an “arbitrary tax” that stifles competition and promotes what Proton refers to as “surveillance capitalism.”
Privacy-first services like ProtonMail and ProtonVPN are penalized by this commission model, while companies that rely on data harvesting—such as Meta and Google—benefit because they monetize user information outside of the App Store’s payment ecosystem.
Class-Action Lawsuit Aims to Break Apple App Store Monopoly
Proton’s legal filing seeks class-action status, meaning it could potentially represent millions of app developers and users who have been affected by Apple’s restrictions. The lawsuit demands:
- Court-mandated support for third-party app stores on iOS.
- Reform of Apple’s payment system to allow direct developer transactions without the 30% cut.
- Full legal recognition of Apple’s monopolistic behavior in mobile ecosystems.
Proton has also pledged to donate any settlement funds to organizations that promote democracy, digital rights, and human freedom.
Apple Yet to Respond to the Censorship Allegations
As of now, Apple has not publicly responded to the lawsuit or the growing criticism over its role in what Proton and other privacy advocates are calling digital authoritarianism.
The case could set a precedent for how tech giants like Apple are held accountable for their global impact—not just in terms of business practices, but in human rights and freedom of expression.
