Apple crackdown on Norwegian gambling apps misfires
Non-gambling related apps mistakenly removed as part of measures initially designed for Norwegian market.
Online giant Apple has mistakenly been removing non-gambling apps from its App Store as part of a crackdown on gambling related content in Norway.
A BBC investigation revealed that the apps removed include a gaming platform for sending clips to friends, a GIF-sharing service and a Polish magazine.
It follows Apple recently removing 39 gambling related apps from its Norwegian App Store following pressure from the Norwegian government.
Although the process of removing gambling related apps was initially only supposed to affect the Norwegian App Store, the removals now seem to be taking place worldwide.
Developers of apps that were removed were provided with the following message from Apple: “In order to reduce fraudulent activity on the App Store and comply with government requests to address illegal online gambling activity, we are no longer allowing gambling apps submitted by individual developers.
“This includes both real money gambling related apps as well as apps that simulate a gambling experience. As a result this app has been removed from the app store.”
Wojtek Pitrusiewicz, co-owner and writer on Polish online media outlet iMagazine, who’s app was one the apps mistakenly removed by Apple took to twitter to voice his frustration.
Our newsstand/news/magazine app just got removed from sale from the App Store 24 hours after our 3.0 update was approved. Reason given: gambling/fraudulent activity. We publish a magazine — nothing to do with gambling or fraud at all. 😞😢😲😱 https://t.co/ewu3mE5FG5 pic.twitter.com/vaKtLthvkW
— Wojtek Pietrusiewicz (@morid1n) August 9, 2018
The TweetXpressApp was another app mistakenly removed by Apple, with its owner Ann Jawn tweeting:
https://twitter.com/itsrealannjawn/status/1027598105485561861
Other developers affected by the crackdown were less than sympathetic to Apple’s actions:
Today Apple removed my 3 years old app for browsing and sending GIFs from the App Store. The reason? They no longer allow gambling apps submitted by individual developers 🤷♂️
Gambling? You could browse and send GIFs. You know, those files pronounced with a hard G. pic.twitter.com/rzrH5eWmyp
— Simon B. Støvring (@simonbs) August 9, 2018
In all cases, the notices sent to the app developers by Apple state that only “verified accounts from incorporated business entities may submit gambling apps for distribution on the App Store.”
No public comment has been made by Apple following the revelations, however several of the affected developers have confirmed that they have appealed their bans.