It won’t take long now before the full enactment of the European Union’s General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR). However, Apple has already begun pulling down apps that contravene that regulation.
9to5Mac reports that Apple is currently in the process of removing apps that share user location without prior explicit permission from the user. There are screenshots of what is supposed to be email received from the App Store Review team regarding the unnecessary sharing of user location.
In part, the email reads that any app that “transmits user location data to third parties without explicit consent from the user and for unapproved purposes,” will be banished from the App Store. Well, they did not use the word ‘banish,’ but such app will be removed from the Apple Store.
Apple is reportedly also working to push developers not to seek user data for use for purposes other than “improving the user experience or software/hardware performance connected to the app’s functionality.”
Though it is currently not clear just how many apps Apple has banished from the Apple Store, or specifically which apps. However, 9to5Mac has confirmed that a number of developers have reported being pulled off the App Store.
Apple is, however, giving the developers a chance to change their codes, and once they are compliant, they will be re-submitted for review. If they get approved, they can then be hosted again in the App Store.