Sanctions scandal around Apple: Banned apps found in App Store
Apps from US-sanctioned companies found in App Store (collage: RBC-Ukraine)
Apple has faced accusations of violating US law after dozens of apps belonging to sanctioned companies were discovered in the App Store. A similar situation was recorded at Google, though on a smaller scale, according to the nonprofit research initiative Tech Transparency Project.
Apple's promise of a safe and trusted store questioned
Apple has repeatedly stated that the App Store is a safe and trusted place for users.
The company emphasized that since the store’s launch in 2008, it has become a secure platform and a global ecosystem for developers. According to Apple’s annual fraud report, the App Store has prevented more than 9 billion dollars in fraudulent transactions over the past five years, including more than 2 billion dollars in 2024.
Apple often uses these arguments to justify maintaining its monopoly on iPhone app distribution, except in cases when antitrust regulators force the company to open the store to competition.
Sanctioned companies' apps appeared in the App Store
Despite Apple's statements, TTP’s investigation found that the store hosted dozens of apps linked to organizations under US government sanctions.
Among them were:
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Russian banks supporting Russia's invasion of Ukraine;
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A Chinese paramilitary entity tied to human rights abuses;
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A company owned by a Lithuanian citizen accused of drug trafficking.
According to TTP, all of this raises questions about how Apple interacted with entities that US authorities consider threats to national security. For US companies, any business ties with such organizations are prohibited by law.
Banned apps uncovered in App Store
Developers did not hide their affiliations
According to TTP, the app developers did not attempt to conceal their ties to sanctioned entities.
''All of the apps listed a developer, seller, copyright holder, or other information on their App Store page that matched with a U.S, '' the entity stated.
In total, TTP identified 52 prohibited apps in the Apple App Store and 18 in Google’s store.
Investigators noted that in 2019, Apple was already fined for insufficient sanctions compliance after the store was found to host an app linked to a sanctioned individual from Slovenia. At the time, Apple promised to improve its screening mechanisms, but TTP's findings indicate this was not enough.
Apple rejects accusations but has removed the apps
The Washington Post reports that Apple does not consider hosting the apps to be a sanctions violation. However, according to TTP, the company removed them after the organization shared its findings with Apple.
As a reminder, some major Indian oil refiners are actively seeking new batches of Russian oil despite sanctions risks and Western pressure.
We also reported that Apple named 17 apps of 2025 that are worth downloading.
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