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Following the announcement of iOS 15, Apple has now updated the App Store policies. This time, Cupertino has further tightened the rules against apps with pornographic content, added new terms for deceptive marketing, and ensured that digital gift cards can only be sold through the App Store's in-app purchase system.
The App Store Guidelines contain the rules developers must follow to have their apps approved by Apple. Each year, Apple updates its guidelines to clarify what developers can and cannot do to ensure user privacy and security when downloading apps from the App Store. This year, Apple says that "hookup apps" that contain pornographic content or facilitate prostitution will be rejected by the company. Apple will only approve apps that allow users to report criminal activity if they are backed by a local law enforcement agency. Regarding in-app purchases, the company emphasizes that digital gift cards may only be sold through the App Store's in-app purchase system. Only physical gift cards can be sold outside the App Store without paying Apple's 30 percent commission.
Apple updates app review process
Apple has also expanded its policies to finally allow mobile operators to include music and video subscriptions in predefined data plans, so developers can easily identify those subscriptions in their apps. The company also says that "fixes for security issues will not be delayed because of policy violations." Additionally, developers can now specify why they believe an app rejection was incorrect when opening an appeal:
Additionally, two updates have been made to the App Review contact form. When appealing an app rejection, you can now indicate whether you believe your app was rejected due to unfair treatment (including political or other bias). And you can now report an app if you believe it poses a trust or safety risk or violates the App Store Review Guidelines.
If you would like to see the complete App Store guidelines, you can find them here. (Photo by Postmodern Studio / Bigstockphoto)
