Millions of Americans are unwittingly handing over their private internet data to China through Chinese-owned VPN apps that Apple and Google still allow in their app stores, despite months of warnings and bipartisan outrage.
At a Glance
- Over 20 of the top 100 free VPNs in the U.S. App Store are secretly owned by Chinese companies, exposing Americans’ data to Chinese authorities.
- Apple and Google have only partially removed these apps, leaving many still available despite bipartisan pressure and national security concerns.
- Chinese law requires all companies to cooperate with state intelligence, meaning user data can be handed over without recourse.
- Privacy watchdogs and U.S. lawmakers are calling out the tech giants for profiting off these apps while failing to protect Americans’ digital privacy.
Chinese-Controlled VPNs Still Flooding U.S. App Stores
Apple and Google have shown the American public, once again, just how little they care about your privacy or national security. Even after the Tech Transparency Project (TTP) blew the whistle in April, exposing more than 20 of the top 100 free VPN apps as Chinese-owned, these tech giants have barely lifted a finger. Turbo VPN, VPN Proxy Master, Thunder VPN—just a few of the apps still sitting pretty in the App Store, collecting the browsing data of millions of unsuspecting Americans. The kicker? Many of these VPNs are linked directly to Qihoo 360, a Chinese cybersecurity firm sanctioned by the U.S. government for its ties to the Chinese military. The TTP’s latest report confirms that, as of June 2025, most of these apps are still available for download. So let’s get this straight: American consumers think they’re protecting themselves from cyber threats, but the real threat is sitting in Beijing, ready to pounce on every bit of data handed over through these so-called privacy tools.
Apple and Google, who rake in billions on the backs of American users, have barely budged. They’ve quietly removed a few apps in response to bad press, but the vast majority remain—no warnings, no transparency, just business as usual. The level of disregard for user privacy and American security would be laughable if it weren’t so dangerous.
Chinese Law: The Ultimate Backdoor
Every single Chinese tech company, by law, must hand over user data to Chinese state intelligence if asked. There’s no due process, no privacy protections, and absolutely no way to refuse. That means every American who trusts their online safety to one of these Chinese-owned VPNs is just one government request away from complete exposure. Cybersecurity experts and legal scholars agree—no matter how many shell companies or misleading privacy policies these VPNs use, the Chinese Communist Party holds the keys. The U.S. Commerce Department already sanctioned Qihoo 360 for its military connections. Yet, the average American family, business, or even government worker could be routing their most sensitive data through apps built to serve Beijing’s interests, not theirs.
After years of TikTok, Huawei, and now the VPN fiasco, how much more evidence do we need that Big Tech will always put profit over patriotism? Apple and Google’s half-measures show exactly why letting Silicon Valley police itself is a joke. When you hear lawmakers and watchdogs raising the alarm, it’s not some partisan scare tactic—it’s common sense. The only thing more outrageous than this blatant national security threat is the tech giants’ refusal to close it.
Lawmakers and Watchdogs Demand Accountability
Bipartisan outrage is reaching a fever pitch. Senators on both sides of the aisle have blasted Apple and Google for profiting from apps that “give the Chinese government access to private information of millions of Americans.” The Campaign for Accountability and TTP haven’t minced words, either—they accuse these companies of prioritizing app store revenue over basic American safety. Calls for legislative action grow louder by the day, with some lawmakers demanding full disclosure of app ownership and jurisdiction, tighter app store vetting, and even outright bans on foreign-controlled data services.
Tech industry apologists claim not every Chinese-owned app is a threat, but let’s cut through the nonsense: Chinese law leaves no room for “maybe.” If Beijing wants your data, they get it, period. The real question is how Apple and Google can look Americans in the eye and continue to facilitate this. As long as they profit from these apps, their crocodile tears about privacy ring hollow. The American people deserve better than being sold out by their own tech companies.
What’s Next: Will Congress Step Up Where Tech Won’t?
Public outrage and expert warnings are pushing this scandal to a boiling point. The only thing keeping these Chinese-owned VPNs in American pockets is the stubborn inaction of Silicon Valley gatekeepers. If Apple and Google won’t do the right thing, lawmakers must step in. Americans have a right to know who controls their apps and where their data is going. The stakes are too high for business-as-usual excuses. It’s time for transparency, accountability, and a hard line on any company that puts American privacy and national security at risk for profit. If tech giants won’t protect Americans, it’s up to Congress to force their hand.
Every day these apps remain in the app stores, Beijing gets a little bolder, and American privacy gets a little weaker. Enough is enough.
