In 2022, Apple found itself caught in the crossfire of governmental demands as it complied with requests from various countries to remove a total of 1,474 apps from its widely popular App Store. The majority of these app removals, a staggering 1,435 in total, came at the request of the mainland Chinese government, highlighting the increasing control exerted by authorities over the digital landscape. In contrast, the Indian government requested the removal of a mere 14 apps.
According to Apple’s recently released ‘2022 App Store Transparency Report,’ the Pakistan government requested the takedown of 10 apps, citing violations of local regulations. Similarly, Russia asked for the removal of seven apps that were deemed to have violated the country’s laws.
The report also revealed that there were 18,412 appeals made by app developers worldwide in an effort to contest the removal of their apps. Unsurprisingly, China led the way in appeals with a total of 5,484, reflecting the tense environment surrounding app regulation in the country. India followed with 709 appeals. As a result of these appeals, Apple reinstated 24 apps in India that had previously been removed, suggesting a willingness to reassess certain cases.
With over 1.78 million apps available on the App Store as of 2022, according to the report, Apple faced the arduous task of reviewing a staggering 6.1 million app submissions. Of these submissions, 1.68 million were rejected for violating App Store policies. However, after reassessment, 253,466 of the initially rejected submissions were eventually approved, highlighting the potential for developers to rectify issues and comply with guidelines. Nonetheless, the App Store saw a total of 186,195 app removals in 2022, encompassing a wide range of categories and applications.
The publication of this transparency report by Apple marks a significant step towards fulfilling the company’s commitment following its $100 million settlement with App Store developers in 2021. By providing greater visibility into app takedowns and reinstatements, Apple aims to enhance transparency and foster trust among developers and users alike.
Examining the categories of removed apps, games topped the list with a staggering 38,883 removals, followed by utilities with 20,045 removals, and business apps with 16,997 removals. These figures highlight the challenges faced by developers operating within these categories and the need to navigate stringent guidelines.
The App Store, with a vast community of 36.97 million registered Apple developers, also faced the responsibility of policing its ecosystem. In 2022, Apple terminated a significant number of developer accounts—428,487 to be precise—for violations of its policies, underscoring the company’s commitment to maintaining a safe and trusted platform.
Apple emphasized the importance of the App Store’s role, stating, “Since it launched in 2008, the App Store has proven to be a safe and trusted place to discover and download apps.” Despite the challenges posed by app takedowns and policy enforcement, Apple remains steadfast in its mission to provide users with a secure and reliable app ecosystem.
In a separate announcement earlier this week, Apple revealed that the App Store successfully prevented over $2.09 billion in potentially fraudulent transactions in 2022. The company also thwarted the use of nearly 3.9 million stolen credit cards for app purchases and took action against 714,000 accounts involved in fraudulent activities. These efforts demonstrate Apple’s commitment to user security and the continuous improvement of its fraud detection measures.
