Provision record
Apple · Apple App Store Review Guidelines · View original document ↗

VPN apps must not violate local laws

High severity Explicit document language Common · 266 of 352 platforms
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This analysis describes what Apple's agreement states, permits, or reserves. It does not constitute a legal determination about enforceability. Regulatory applicability and practical outcomes may vary by jurisdiction, enforcement context, and individual circumstances. Read our methodology

Recent Activity

This document changed recently

Medium Jun 9, 2026

The updated guidelines state that developers must ensure kids receive age-appropriate experiences within their apps and must remove user-generated content that violates the guidelines, terms of service, or community standards. Under the revised policy, if Apple identifies policy-violating content, the developer will be asked to remove it and provide a compliance improvement plan. Based on the developer's response, the app may be removed from the App Store until compliance is demonstrated. This establishes a formal escalation pathway where developer inaction or inadequate remediation can result in app suspension or removal.

View change record →

Clause Stability Stable

0
Changes
6
Months Monitored
Jul 10, 2026
First Seen
Jul 10, 2026
Last Seen
This clause type exists across 1499 other provisions on other platforms.

How other platforms handle this

Twitch Medium

the choice of governing law in this Section will not deprive you of the protection afforded to you as a consumer by provisions that cannot be derogated from by agreement by virtue of the laws applicable where you reside...

ZipRecruiter Medium

The Federal Trade Commission has jurisdiction over ZipRecruiter's compliance with the EU-U.S. DPF, the UK Extension to the EU-U.S. DPF, and the Swiss-U.S. DPF.

Netflix Medium

you consent as part of these Terms to venue for such cases exclusively in these courts.

See all platforms with this clause type →
▸ View Original Clause Language DOCUMENT RECORD
"
VPN apps must not violate local laws, and if you choose to make your VPN app available in a territory that requires a VPN license, you must provide your license information in the App Review Notes field.

Excerpt from Apple's App Store Review Guidelines

Provision details

Document information
Document
Apple App Store Review Guidelines
Entity
Apple
Document last updated
May 5, 2026
Tracking information
First tracked
July 9, 2026
Last verified
July 9, 2026
Record ID
CA-P-019103
Document ID
CA-D-00025
Evidence Provenance
Source URL
Wayback Machine
Content hash (SHA-256)
4757c78422154f6dba5cf35af2a90cf427e5b7c56e974238344df717cb9eb93f
Analysis generated
July 9, 2026 03:44 UTC
Methodology
Evidence
✓ Snapshot stored   ✓ Hash verified
Citation Record
Entity: Apple
Document: Apple App Store Review Guidelines
Record ID: CA-P-019103
Captured: 2026-07-09 03:44:30 UTC
SHA-256: 4757c78422154f6d…
URL: https://conductatlas.com/platform/apple/apple-app-store-review-guidelines/provision/CA-P-019103/vpn-apps-must-not-violate-local-laws/
Accessed: Sept. 8, 2026
Permanent archival reference. Stable identifier suitable for legal filings, compliance documentation, and research citation.
Classification
Severity
High
Categories

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Frequently Asked Questions

What does Apple's VPN apps must not violate local laws clause do?

The clause states: “VPN apps must not violate local laws, and if you choose to make your VPN app available in a territory that requires a VPN license, you must provide your license information in the App Review Notes field.”

How many platforms have this type of clause?

ConductAtlas has identified this type of provision across 266 platforms. See the full comparison.

Is ConductAtlas affiliated with Apple?

No. ConductAtlas is an independent monitoring service. We are not affiliated with, endorsed by, or sponsored by Apple.