One of the world’s biggest VPN providers, as one of the few free trusted VPNs, ProtonVPN has recently released a statement, announcing that Apple has blocked important security updates to the iOS app.

On March 17 the App Store blocked all of the important security updates ProtonVPN was scheduled to roll out. The updates were supposed to enhance the app’s security to further prevent account takeovers and make the VPN more secure and private.

In its formal address to ProtonVPN, Apple stated that it found issues with the ways the app was described in the virtual store, taking particular issue with the following statement:

Whether it is challenging governments, educating the public, or training journalists, we have a long history of helping bring online freedom to more people around the world.

Apple officials seem to be concerned that this kind of description encourages people to bypass local regulations, geographical restrictions and obtain access to otherwise blocked content.

This manual penalty that seemingly came out of nowhere (ProtonVPN has been using the same app description for months), couldn’t have chosen at a worse time.

A few hours prior to the Apple’s block, on the very same day, the United Nations officially endorsed using Proton’s services (such as ProtonMail) in Myanmar — a country fighting against an oppressive militant regime and suffering from numerous human rights violations.

ProtonVPN refuses to see the actions by Apple as something other than a direct attack on human rights to privacy, security, and online freedom.

As a response to these events, Proton promoted the Digital Markets Act, which the EU is currently working on to regulate big tech companies.

The Swiss-based ProtonVPN and ProtonMail are well-known for their stance on internet freedoms, and every person’s right to online privacy, security, freedom of speech, and expression. This VPN provider has made a name for itself on the ground of fighting back government and third-party surveillance and intrusiveness.