Consumer Rights Wiki - User contributions [en]

Bloatware

2026-02-26T22:26:30Z

CopyeditorHF: (Previous save was premature): Major rewording for a more professional tone, improved argumentation, added comments requesting more be added regarding bloatware interfering with user's ability to control what is on their devices.

{{StubNotice}}

There are multiple definitions of bloatware within the context of software. They include:

*[[wikipedia:Software_bloat#Bloatware|Pre-installed software]] that is not required for a system functionality
*Redundant or duplicate features included on a device (physical or digital)
*[[wikipedia:Potentially_unwanted_program|Undesirable programs]] that were [https://www.deceptive.design/types/sneaking not requested by the user]
*Software that has [[wikipedia:Software_bloat|become bloated over time]]

While the term "bloatware" is commonly ascribed to software, ''hardware'' bloat also exists.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Ionescu |first=Bogdan |date=2025-09-13 |title=Hosting a WebSite on a Disposable Vape |url=https://bogdanthegeek.github.io/blog/projects/vapeserver/ |access-date=2026-01-15 |website=BogdanTheGeek's Blog |url-status=live |archive-url=http://web.archive.org/web/20260209021718/https://bogdanthegeek.github.io/blog/projects/vapeserver/ |archive-date=9 Feb 2026}}</ref> See [[Internet_of_things|IoT devices]] for examples.

Bloat can be a symptom of a decline in quality of devices and services, colloquially referred to as [[enshittification]].

==Why it is a problem==
Bloatware often arises as pre-installed software and applications because the device manufacturer (OEM) has a contract or partnership with another corporation. The terms and processes leading to these partnerships, however, lack transparency. One study determined that personal data collection and user tracking was prevalent in pre-installed apps, with the data collection incluing PII and geolocation data, personal email and phone call metadata, contacts, behavioral and usage statistics as well as isolated malware samples.<ref>''J. Gamba, M. Rashed, A. Razaghpanah, J. Tapiador and N. Vallina-Rodriguez, "An Analysis of Pre-installed Android Software," 2020 IEEE Symposium on Security and Privacy (SP), San Francisco, CA, USA, 2020, pp. 1039-1055, doi: 10.1109/SP40000.2020.00013.'' https://ieeexplore.ieee.org/document/9152633 Accessed 2''6 Feb 2026.'' ([http://web.archive.org/web/20251130162318/https://www.researchgate.net/publication/332932516_An_Analysis_of_Pre-installed_Android_Software Archived])</ref>

Bloat, in any of its forms, raises privacy and security concerns<ref>{{Cite web |last=Hubert |first=Bert |date=2024-02-08 |title=Why Bloat Is Still Software’s Biggest Vulnerability |url=https://spectrum.ieee.org/lean-software-development |access-date=2025-11-21 |website=IEEE Spectrum |url-status=live |archive-url=http://web.archive.org/web/20260131190126/https://spectrum.ieee.org/lean-software-development |archive-date=31 Jan 2026}}</ref>. As a rule of thumb, every added branch of code can make a program exponentially harder to prove for correctness<ref>https://gavinhoward.com/2024/03/what-computers-cannot-do-the-consequences-of-turing-completeness/#infinite-state ([http://web.archive.org/web/20251214082939/https://gavinhoward.com/2024/03/what-computers-cannot-do-the-consequences-of-turing-completeness/ Archived])</ref>, making it impractical or impossible to verify that a program is not malicious (such as [[spyware]]) or has an exploitable [[wikipedia:Software_vulnerabilities|vulnerability]]. The problem is exacerbated if the app is not [[wikipedia:Open-source_software|open-source]] or [[wikipedia:Source-available_software|source-available]], since [[wikipedia:Reverse_engineering|reverse engineering]] is difficult and (in some cases) illegal. This means that user is unable to control or ensure the safety of their devices.

Bloat is known for causing sub-par [[wikipedia:User_experience|user experience]]:

*Increased latency, "slowness", when using programs and applications<ref>https://developer.mozilla.org/en-US/docs/Web/Performance ([http://web.archive.org/web/20260211103730/https://developer.mozilla.org/en-US/docs/Web/Performance Archived])</ref>
*High memory use prevents or impedes multitasking<ref>https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Thrashing_(computer_science) ([http://web.archive.org/web/20260207194502/https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Thrashing_(computer_science) Archived])</ref>
*High power usage increases energy bills and reduces battery lifespan
*Over reliance on network connections (e.g., internet) preventing data from being cached locally<ref>{{Cite web |year=2019 |title=Local-first software: You own your data, in spite of the cloud |url=https://www.inkandswitch.com/essay/local-first |url-status=live |website=Ink & Switch |archive-url=http://web.archive.org/web/20260130001648/https://www.inkandswitch.com/essay/local-first/ |archive-date=30 Jan 2026}}</ref>, which can both impede access as well as increase cellular-data billing
*Instability issues due to difficulty in testing and verifying big codebases

If sustainable energy sources are not used to power these devices with bloatware, bloat can contribute to [[wikipedia:Climate_change|climate change]]. This is true for any excessive processing (CPU, GPU, etc.) and network abuse (such as [[Artificial_intelligence/training|AI training]]).

==See also==

*[[JavaScript]]
*[[Electron]]

==External links==

*[https://youtu.be/kZRE7HIO3vk "The Thirty Million Line Problem"] by [[wikipedia:Casey_Muratori|Casey Muratori]] on "[https://www.youtube.com/@MollyRocket Molly Rocket]" channel
*[https://idlewords.com/talks/website_obesity.htm "Web Obesity Crisis"]
*[https://danluu.com/web-bloat/ How web bloat impacts users with slow connections]
*[https://www.keycdn.com/support/the-growth-of-web-page-size The Growth of Web Page Size]
*[https://tonsky.me/blog/js-bloat Javascript bloat in 2024]
*[https://tonsky.me/blog/disenchantment "Software disenchantment"]
*[https://github.com/gorhill/uBlock/wiki/Who-cares-about-efficiency,-I-have-8-GB-RAM-and%7Cor-a-quad-core-CPU uBlock-wiki counterpoint to "Who cares about efficiency, I have 8 GB RAM and|or a quad core CPU"]
*[https://randomascii.wordpress.com/2022/09/29/why-modern-software-is-slow-windows-voice-recorder/ Why Modern Software is Slow–Windows Voice Recorder]

==References==
<references />

[[Category:Common terms]]

Bloatware

2026-02-26T22:21:17Z

CopyeditorHF: Major rewording

{{StubNotice}}

There are multiple definitions of bloatware within the context of software. They include:

*[[wikipedia:Software_bloat#Bloatware|Pre-installed software]] that is not required for a system functionality
*Redundant or duplicate features included on a device (physical or digital)
*[[wikipedia:Potentially_unwanted_program|Undesirable programs]] that were [https://www.deceptive.design/types/sneaking not requested by the user]
*Software that has [[wikipedia:Software_bloat|become bloated over time]]

While the term "bloatware" is commonly ascribed to software, ''hardware'' bloat also exists.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Ionescu |first=Bogdan |date=2025-09-13 |title=Hosting a WebSite on a Disposable Vape |url=https://bogdanthegeek.github.io/blog/projects/vapeserver/ |access-date=2026-01-15 |website=BogdanTheGeek's Blog |url-status=live |archive-url=http://web.archive.org/web/20260209021718/https://bogdanthegeek.github.io/blog/projects/vapeserver/ |archive-date=9 Feb 2026}}</ref> See [[Internet_of_things|IoT devices]] for examples.

Bloat can be a symptom of a decline in quality of devices and services, colloquially referred to as [[enshittification]].

==Why it is a problem==
Bloatware often arises as pre-installed software and applications because the device manufacturer (OEM) has a contract or partnership with another corporation. The terms and processes leading to these partnerships, however, lack transparency. One study determined that personal data collection and user tracking was prevalent pre-installed apps, with the data collection incluing PII and geolocation data, personal email and phone call metadata, contacts, behavioral and usage statistics as well as isolated malware samples.<ref>''J. Gamba, M. Rashed, A. Razaghpanah, J. Tapiador and N. Vallina-Rodriguez, "An Analysis of Pre-installed Android Software," 2020 IEEE Symposium on Security and Privacy (SP), San Francisco, CA, USA, 2020, pp. 1039-1055, doi: 10.1109/SP40000.2020.00013.'' https://ieeexplore.ieee.org/document/9152633 Accessed 2''6 Feb 2026.'' ([http://web.archive.org/web/20251130162318/https://www.researchgate.net/publication/332932516_An_Analysis_of_Pre-installed_Android_Software Archived])</ref>

Bloat, in any of its forms, raises privacy and security concerns<ref>{{Cite web |last=Hubert |first=Bert |date=2024-02-08 |title=Why Bloat Is Still Software’s Biggest Vulnerability |url=https://spectrum.ieee.org/lean-software-development |access-date=2025-11-21 |website=IEEE Spectrum |url-status=live |archive-url=http://web.archive.org/web/20260131190126/https://spectrum.ieee.org/lean-software-development |archive-date=31 Jan 2026}}</ref>. As a rule of thumb, every added branch of code can make a program exponentially harder to prove for correctness<ref>https://gavinhoward.com/2024/03/what-computers-cannot-do-the-consequences-of-turing-completeness/#infinite-state ([http://web.archive.org/web/20251214082939/https://gavinhoward.com/2024/03/what-computers-cannot-do-the-consequences-of-turing-completeness/ Archived])</ref>, making it impractical or impossible to verify that a program is not malicious (such as [[spyware]]) or has an exploitable [[wikipedia:Software_vulnerabilities|vulnerability]]. The problem is exacerbated if the app is not [[wikipedia:Open-source_software|open-source]] or [[wikipedia:Source-available_software|source-available]], since [[wikipedia:Reverse_engineering|reverse engineering]] is difficult and (in some cases) illegal. This means that user is unable to control or ensure the safety of their devices. to be at the mercy of the developers and distributors of the app.

Bloat is known for causing sub-par [[wikipedia:User_experience|user experience]]:

*Increased latency, "slowness", when using programs and applications<ref>https://developer.mozilla.org/en-US/docs/Web/Performance ([http://web.archive.org/web/20260211103730/https://developer.mozilla.org/en-US/docs/Web/Performance Archived])</ref>
*High memory use prevents or impedes multitasking<ref>https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Thrashing_(computer_science) ([http://web.archive.org/web/20260207194502/https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Thrashing_(computer_science) Archived])</ref>
*High power usage increases energy bills and reduces battery lifespan
*Over reliance on network connections (e.g., internet) preventing data from being cached locally<ref>{{Cite web |year=2019 |title=Local-first software: You own your data, in spite of the cloud |url=https://www.inkandswitch.com/essay/local-first |url-status=live |website=Ink & Switch |archive-url=http://web.archive.org/web/20260130001648/https://www.inkandswitch.com/essay/local-first/ |archive-date=30 Jan 2026}}</ref>, which can both impede access as well as increase cellular-data billing
*Instability issues due to difficulty in testing and verifying big codebases

If sustainable energy sources are not used to power these devices with bloatware, bloat can contribute to [[wikipedia:Climate_change|climate change]]. This is true for any excessive processing (CPU, GPU, etc.) and network abuse (such as [[Artificial_intelligence/training|AI training]]).

==See also==

*[[JavaScript]]
*[[Electron]]

==External links==

*[https://youtu.be/kZRE7HIO3vk "The Thirty Million Line Problem"] by [[wikipedia:Casey_Muratori|Casey Muratori]] on "[https://www.youtube.com/@MollyRocket Molly Rocket]" channel
*[https://idlewords.com/talks/website_obesity.htm "Web Obesity Crisis"]
*[https://danluu.com/web-bloat/ How web bloat impacts users with slow connections]
*[https://www.keycdn.com/support/the-growth-of-web-page-size The Growth of Web Page Size]
*[https://tonsky.me/blog/js-bloat Javascript bloat in 2024]
*[https://tonsky.me/blog/disenchantment "Software disenchantment"]
*[https://github.com/gorhill/uBlock/wiki/Who-cares-about-efficiency,-I-have-8-GB-RAM-and%7Cor-a-quad-core-CPU uBlock-wiki counterpoint to "Who cares about efficiency, I have 8 GB RAM and|or a quad core CPU"]
*[https://randomascii.wordpress.com/2022/09/29/why-modern-software-is-slow-windows-voice-recorder/ Why Modern Software is Slow–Windows Voice Recorder]

==References==
<references />

[[Category:Common terms]]

Artificial intelligence

2026-02-26T21:33:00Z

CopyeditorHF: Reworded in a more professional manner, improved readability. Request for additional citations. (Glossed over the "under review notice." Oops.)

{{Irrelevant}}{{ToneWarning}}

'''Artificial intelligence''' (AI) is a field of computer science that produces systems designed to solve problems that humans typically solve using intelligence. In the consumer and industry space, it is commonly referred to as chatbots or [[wikipedia:Large language model|large language models]] (LLMs), which have been a main focus of industry since the November 2022 launch of [[OpenAI]]'s [[ChatGPT]], with tens of billions of dollars in funding allocated to producing more popular LLMs. This is also a significant focus on [[wikipedia:Text-to-image model|text-to-image models]], which "draw" an image using a written prompt, and less commonly, [[wikipedia:Text-to-video model|text-to-video models]], which extend the text-to-image concept across several smooth video frames.

AI is not a new concept; it has been of interest since the 1950s. AI is a catch-all term, encompassing many areas and techniques.

[[wikipedia:Generative artificial intelligence|Generative artificial intelligence]] models are trained through vast amounts of existing human-generated content. LLMs gather statistics on word patterns, which allows the model to generate sequences of words that seem similar to what a person might have written. However, an LLM does not understand anything; they cannot reason. They generate randomly modulated pattern of tokens. In this way, they function similarly to autocomplete.

People reading sequences of tokens sometimes perceive things they think are true. Sequences that do not make sense to the reader, or that are false, are called [[wikipedia:Hallucination (artificial intelligence)|hallucinations]]. LLMs are typically trained to produce output that is pleasing to people, exhibiting [[dark patterns]]. For example, they produce output which seems confidently written, use patterns which praise the user (sycophancy), and employ emotionally manipulative language.

People are accustomed to interacting with others, and many overestimate the abilities of things that exhibit complex, person-like patterns. Promoters of “AI” systems take advantage of this tendency, using suggestive names (like “reasoning” and “learning”) and grand claims (“PhD level”), which make it harder for people to understand these systems.

From November 2022 to 2025, venture capitalists and companies invested hundreds of billions of dollars into AI but received minimal returns. When companies seek returns, consumers can expect that products may be orphaned, services may be reduced, customer data may be sold or repurposed, costs may rise, and companies may reduce staff or fail. Historically, AI has had brief periods of intense hype, followed by disillusionment, and “AI winters.”[<nowiki/>[[Consumer Rights Wiki:Verifiability|citation needed]]]

The current well-funded industry of artificial intelligence tools has led to the rampant and unethical use of content. Startups aiming to develop AI services have been rapidly scraping the internet for content to train future models, and members of the field are concerned that they are approaching the limit of publicly available content to train from.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Tremayne-Pengelly |first=Alexandra |date=16 Dec 2024 |title=Ilya Sutskever Warns A.I. Is Running Out of Data—Here’s What Will Happen Next |url=https://observer.com/2024/12/openai-cofounder-ilya-sutskever-ai-data-peak/ |website=Observer |url-status=live |archive-url=http://web.archive.org/web/20251126053705/https://observer.com/2024/12/openai-cofounder-ilya-sutskever-ai-data-peak/ |archive-date=26 Nov 2025}}</ref>

==Why is it a problem==
===Unethical training of data===
:Further reading: [[Artificial intelligence/training]]

Users' work is sometimes silently used in training without their explicit consent, as was the case for [[Adobe's AI policy]].

===Privacy concerns of AI===
AI can be and has been used to generate deepfakes of people with and without their consent. Deepfakes are media generated with the likeness of an individual. Deepfake media can range from harmless to harmful. The latter includes child pornography, revenge porn, blackmail, etc. Since the rampant rise of consumer AI, deepfakes have become even more prevalent, with some websites explicitly specializing in them.[<nowiki/>[[Consumer Rights Wiki:Verifiability|citation needed]]]

===Privacy concerns of online AI models===
There are several concerns with using online AI models like [[ChatGPT]], not only because they are proprietary, but also because there is no guarantee of where your data will be stored or used. Recent developments in local AI models offer an alternative to online AI models, which can be downloaded from platforms like [https://huggingface.co/ HuggingFace] and used offline. Common models to run include Llama ([[Meta]]), DeepSeek ([[DeepSeek]]), Phi ([[Microsoft]]), Mistral ([[Mistral AI]]), Gemma ([[Google]]).

In some cases, AI models can be hijacked for malicious purposes. Demonstrated with Comet ([[Perplexity]]), users can run arbitrary prompts to the browser's built-in AI assistant by hiding text in the HTML comments, non-visible webpage text, or simple comments on a webpage.<ref>{{Cite web |date=Aug 20, 2025 |title=Tweet from Brave |url=https://xcancel.com/brave/status/1958152314914508893#m |access-date=Aug 24, 2025 |website=X (formerly [[Twitter]])}}</ref> These arbitrary prompts can then be exploited to obtain sensitive information or gain unauthorized access to high-value accounts, such as those for banking or gaming libraries.<ref>{{Cite web |date=Aug 23, 2025 |title=Tweet from zack (in SF) |url=https://xcancel.com/zack_overflow/status/1959308058200551721 |access-date=Aug 24, 2025 |website=X (formerly [[Twitter]]) |url-status=live |archive-url=http://web.archive.org/web/20250824201111/https://xcancel.com/zack_overflow/status/1959308058200551721 |archive-date=24 Aug 2025}}</ref>

===Unethical maintenance of data centers===

Due to heavy investments into and increased use of generative AI and LLMs, many data centers have been constructed to host LLMs. These data centers consume large amounts of power and water, in order to power and cool the computer systems running the models. Residents that live in cities where AI data centers have been constructed have complained of an increase in their electricity bills despite no change in their personal usage.[<nowiki/>[[Consumer Rights Wiki:Verifiability|citation needed]]] According to a research video by Benn Jordan, these data centers (as well as fracking operations and natural occurrences) cause a high amount of sound pollution, which can cause various symptoms.<ref> https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_bP80DEAbuo ([https://preservetube.com/watch?v=_bP80DEAbuo Archived])</ref>

==Further reading==
*[[Dark pattern]]
*[[Automatic content recognition]]

==References==
{{Reflist}}

[[Category:Artificial intelligence]]

Screenshot blocking

2026-02-26T21:08:39Z

CopyeditorHF: Tonal edits, reworded in more neutral, professional language. Moved part of "It's a local file" to "Why it's a problem". Added comments about argumentation, requesting other opinions or expansion of argumentation.

{{ToneWarning}}{{Incomplete|Issue 1=Makes specific claims without citations}}
'''Screenshot blocking''' prevents the owner of a computing device from capturing screenshots and screen recordings. Some operating systems such as Android OS and iOS let app makers block the device owners from capturing screenshots and screen recordings of certain content. This may be done to prevent copyrighted content from being copied, such as Netflix blocking screenshots of the app<ref name="netflix-vdocipher">{{Cite web |last=Sharma |first=Vishal |date=2026-01-14 |title=Netflix DRM: How & Why of Encrypted Video Security (2025)? |url=https://www.vdocipher.com/blog/2022/05/netflix-drm/ |access-date=2026-02-21 |website=vdocipher |archive-url=http://web.archive.org/web/20251015170902/https://www.vdocipher.com/blog/2022/05/netflix-drm/ |archive-date=15 Oct 2025}}</ref>. However, some instances of screenshot blocking may be seen as excessive and unnecessary in some cases, thus violating ownership of consumers by unreasonably limiting what they are allowed to do with their devices.

==How it works==
Blocking screenshots is typically an in-app technology, not something that automatically applies across all apps or devices. Here's how it works, depending on the platform:

On Android, apps can block screenshots using a flag called: WindowManager.LayoutParams.FLAG_SECURE. When this flag is set on an activity, it prevents the content from being captured in screenshots, screen recordings, and even in the app switcher (recent apps view). This is often used by apps like, banking apps, streaming services (e.g., Netflix), and secure messaging apps.<ref>[https://developer.android.com/reference/android/view/WindowManager.LayoutParams WindowManager.LayoutParams | API reference | Android Developers]</ref><ref name="netflix-vdocipher" />

On iOS, iOS does not give developers an official flag like FLAG_SECURE, but they use workarounds, like displaying sensitive content in a UIView with custom rendering, then hiding or blurring it when the app detects screenshot events or apps going into background or app switcher{{Citation needed}}.

On desktop systems, blocking screenshots is more difficult because users have full control over the operating system, there is no built-in flag to prevent screenshots. Third-party tools or system-level protections are needed. Although, enterprise apps may block screenshots using digital Rights Management (DRM), virtual Desktop Infrastructure (VDI), or overlay detection / screen capture prevention libraries{{Citation needed}}.

==Why it happens==
Companies tend to cite the following reasons for blocking screenshots:

'''Protecting sensitive information'''

Apps that handle financial data (banks, payment apps) or confidential documents may block screenshots to reduce the risk of accidental data leaks. Screenshots could be captured and shared without consent, which could expose personal information like account numbers or passwords.

'''Content protection and licensing'''

Media apps (streaming services, e-books, and some news apps) sometimes block screenshots or recordings to prevent piracy or unauthorized redistribution of copyrighted content. Examples include Netflix and Spotify. However, there are legitimate uses such as quotations, which falls under fair use.

'''Privacy of other users'''

Messaging apps may prevent screenshots in certain contexts to protect the privacy of the other party. One such example are "disappearing messages" in WhatsApp.

'''Regulatory or contractual requirements'''

In some industries, companies must comply with legal rules around data protection or digital content licensing, which may include preventing local copies from being made.

==Why it is a problem==

===Impedes ownership===
On desktop operating systems like Windows and Linux, users have always been able to take screenshots or recordings of whatever is on their screen, without programs being able to block it. By contrast, many mobile apps restrict or disable this feature. This raises concerns because it limits a device owner’s ability to fully use their own device. Since a smartphone is personal property, users should retain control over its features, including the ability to capture their own screen rather than having that option dictated by app developers.

===Overuse===
Some apps implement screenshot blocking in situations where it is unnecessary. For example, since 2018, Chrome has blocked screenshots while in Incognito mode. It is unclear what this restriction is meant to protect against, given that Incognito browsing already functions by not saving history or cookies.
There are legitimate reasons to take a screenshot in Incognito mode. Developers may need to capture how a website looks to first-time visitors, or users might want to save information temporarily without adding it to their browsing history. In these cases, blocking screenshots serves no meaningful security purpose and only prevents the device owner from using their phone’s features as intended.

=== Ineffective ===
Screens can be photographed from an external device. The quality of the image is likely to be lower, but it generally does not prevent someone from being able to reach alphanumerical information such as banking details and text-based messages.

==Incidents==

===ALDI TALK===
Earlier in 2025, the German cellular provider ALDI TALK blocked screenshots throughout its entire app.{{CitationNeeded}} The app displays information such as how much high-speed data a subscriber has remaining. Blocking screenshots of such basic information seems unnecessary, and applying the restriction across the entire app because some “private” content might appear in certain sections is excessive.

===WhatsApp===
The developers of [[WhatsApp]] have threatened with blocking screenshots inside chats with "advanced chat privacy" enabled:

<blockquote>
The company has stated that this is the first iteration of the feature, with plans to introduce even more robust protections in future updates, potentially including measures to block screenshots<ref>[https://archive.today/2025.07.07-200053/https://cybersecuritynews.com/whatsapp-advanced-chat-privacy-feature/ WhatsApp’s New Advanced Chat Privacy Feature to Protect Sensitive Conversations]</ref>.
</blockquote>WhatsApp blocked screenshots of profile pictures in 2024, citing it as a measure to protect privacy.<ref>{{Cite web |date=25 Feb 2026 |title=About profile photo screenshot blocking |url=https://faq.whatsapp.com/1799783917198636 |access-date=25 Feb 2026 |website=WhatsApp Help Center}}</ref> However, once a profile picture has been uploaded to WhatApp, it is no longer a private image.

==It's a local file==
When you take a screenshot, the screenshot is stored locally inside the encrypted internal storage of your smartphone, protected by a user's lockscreen credentials. As a local file, it remains fully under the user's control.

==External displays==
The "SECURE" flag on Android is responsible for screenshot blocking and screen recording blocking. However, it has another purpose: It prevents content from appearing on external displays such as HDMI and Miracast (over-the-air screen mirroring).

Screen contents can only appear on an external screens if the smartphone owner has chosen to connect an external screen. If the owner does private stuff, they should disconnect the external screen anyway.

Ways to solve this would be to let the user chose which apps can appear on external displays, or let the user decide whether they want to hide content flagged by the app developers as "SECURE".

The "SECURE" flag is not just used to hide "sensitive" content, but also by streaming service providers to prevent screenshots and screen recordings, even though there are legitimate purposes for it (fair use). As a side effect, you can not connect your phone to a TV or monitor to watch on a big screen, so you have to hope the TV has native support for your streaming provider.

In any case, the device owner must have the final say.

==Third-party screen recorders==
Another reason cited for screenshot/screen recorder blocking is the narrow possibility that third-party screen recorder apps contain spyware.

Third-party apps can only capture the screen if the phone owner allows them. It would make sense to let the user decide which third-party apps can capture content marked as "SECURE". But the pre-installed screenshot and screen recording tool should never be blocked because they don't contain spyware (unless the phone maker chose to put it in, in which case you would have a much greater problem). If users wish to guarantee that their screen recorder software does not contain spyware, they can utilise open source screen recorders.

In any case, there is no reason to block the '''built-in''' screenshot and screen recording tools just because misbehaving third-party apps may be out there.

==Screenshot detection==
Android 14 has added a "screenshot event" and Android 15 a "screen recording event." This makes allows apps to register when the owner takes a screenshot or screen recording. An online poll shows most users are opposed to screenshot detection.<ref>[https://www.androidauthority.com/android-14-screenshot-detection-api-3389527/ Android 14's screenshot detection system is getting adopted by more apps] ([http://web.archive.org/web/20251212004411/https://www.androidauthority.com/android-14-screenshot-detection-api-3389527/ Archived])</ref>

==References==
<references />

[[Category:Common terms]]

User talk:CopyeditorHF

2026-02-26T20:43:15Z

CopyeditorHF: /* Apologies for AbuseFilter issues */ Reply

{{Template:Welcome|realName=|name=CopyeditorHF}}

-- [[User:New user message|New user message]] ([[User talk:New user message|talk]]) 21:18, 20 February 2026 (UTC)

==Apologies for AbuseFilter issues==

Sorry for [[special:AbuseLog/18311|this]]. I'll try to do the edit for you now. [[User:AnotherConsumerRightsPerson|'''''AnotherConsumerRightsPerson''''']] ([[User talk:AnotherConsumerRightsPerson|talk]]) 16:22, 25 February 2026 (UTC)

:Just a heads up - the page you linked Copyeditor to will appear as 'you do not have permission to view this' to a non-privaleged user. (abuse filter logs and the filters themselves are not visible to non-mods, so that abusive actors can't see exactly what the filters are)
:I think that filter might need reworking in any case, because currently it will block any edits to lines containing an archive.today link, as was seen here. I've disabled it for now, as not adding archive.today links is probably something better enforced via peer review and policy than via a filter [[User:Keith|Keith]] ([[User talk:Keith|talk]]) 17:34, 25 February 2026 (UTC)
::I won't do this, but you can reenable it with a warning blocking the edit the first time you make it and the second time allowing it. If so you'll need to rework [[MediaWiki:Abusefilter-archivetoday]]. [[User:AnotherConsumerRightsPerson|'''''AnotherConsumerRightsPerson''''']] ([[User talk:AnotherConsumerRightsPerson|talk]]) 18:04, 25 February 2026 (UTC)
:Hi! Thanks for the message. Was this about not being able to edit the "Screenshot blocking" page? I think I was able to get past it by changing the citation. [[User:CopyeditorHF|CopyeditorHF]] ([[User talk:CopyeditorHF|talk]]) 20:43, 26 February 2026 (UTC)

AirPods

2026-02-25T16:05:47Z

CopyeditorHF: Minor wording edits

{{StubNotice}}
{{Cleanup}}
{{ProductLineCargo
| ReleaseYear = 2016-12-13
| Website = https://apple.com/airpods
| Logo = AirPods logo.svg
|ArticleType=ProductLine|Category=Wireless earbuds|Company=Apple|InProduction=Yes}}

'''AirPods''' are wireless earbuds designed by [[Apple]]. They first debuted on September 07, 2016 alongside the iPhone 7 and were released on December 13, 2016.<ref name=":0" /><ref>{{Cite web |date=7 Sep 2016 |title=Apple reinvents the wireless headphone with AirPods |url=https://www.apple.com/newsroom/2016/09/apple-reinvents-the-wireless-headphones-with-airpods/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20260104044455/https://www.apple.com/newsroom/2016/09/apple-reinvents-the-wireless-headphones-with-airpods/ |archive-date=2026-01-04 |access-date=24 Nov 2025 |website=Apple}}</ref>

==Consumer impact summary==
AirPods are designed in a way that makes them unrepairable, leading to customers having to buy a new pair after a few years of use. Apple can replace them but will not repair them or help you do it yourself. According to an expert from iFixit:<ref name=":1">{{Cite web |last=Brown |first=Dalvin |date=20 Apr 2023 |title=Apple Doesn’t Repair AirPods. Here’s Why. |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=omMPJEoZGJE |url-status=live |archive-url=https://preservetube.com/watch?v=omMPJEoZGJE |archive-date=2026-02-02 |access-date=24 Nov 2025 |website=Youtube |publisher=Wall Street Journal}}</ref><blockquote>If you want to take this apart, non-destructively, to replace the batteries, as far as I know, that's impossible.[[File:Airpods-pro-3-carepricecomparison.png|alt=an image depicting the price difference between normal Apple service and AppleCare service.|thumb|Price difference between normal Apple service and AppleCare service.]]</blockquote>The rechargeable batteries in AirPods can experience fast-tracked degradation after a certain number of battery cycles<ref name=":1" /> with two-year-old sets lasting for less than half of the advertised five hours.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Elalj |first=Simo |date=2024-04-16 |title=How Long Do AirPods Last? (Battery & Lifespan) |url=https://www.refurb.me/blog/how-long-do-airpods-last-battery-lifespan |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250723215441/https://www.refurb.me/blog/how-long-do-airpods-last-battery-lifespan |archive-date=2025-07-23 |access-date=2026-02-20 |website=RefurbMe}}</ref><ref name=":2">{{Cite web |title=Apple Service and Repair for AirPods |url=https://support.apple.com/airpods/repair?services=service |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20260220050147/https://support.apple.com/airpods/repair?services=service |archive-date=2026-02-20 |access-date=2026-02-20 |website=Apple}}</ref>

Up until September 22, 2023, Apple used their proprietary Lightning connector on the AirPods' charging case.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Borresen |first=Jennifer |date=22 Sep 2023 |title=iPhone 15 pro uses USB-C charger: An exploration of how Apple got here |url=https://eu.usatoday.com/story/graphics/2023/09/22/iphone-15-pro-usb-c-charger-explained/70916655007/ |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20260104044745/https://www.usatoday.com/story/graphics/2023/09/22/iphone-15-pro-usb-c-charger-explained/70916655007/ |archive-date=2026-01-04 |access-date=24 Nov 2025 |website=USA Today}}</ref>

Apple has a program to service batteries and purchase replacement individual AirPods and charging cases. The replacement of one or both AirPods or the charging case has a lower price with AppleCare+ than without. Apple offers battery servicing for free with AppleCare+ and for a fee without.<ref name=":2" />

===User Freedom===
The features that AirPods are marketed with restrict interoperability because they are only available within the Apple ecosystem. When used with non-Apple products the functionality is on par with a basic wireless headphone.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Thomas |first=Christian |date=2025-03-26 |title=Don't use AirPods with Android |url=https://www.soundguys.com/dont-use-airpods-android-20767/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250407044828/https://www.soundguys.com/dont-use-airpods-android-20767/ |archive-date=2025-04-07 |access-date=2026-01-05 |website=SOUNDGUYS}}</ref> However there have been projects attempting to regain marketed features of AirPods with non-Apple products, such as LibrePods.<ref>https://github.com/cysgodi/librepods ([http://web.archive.org/web/20251220145417/https://github.com/cysgodi/librepods Archived])</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Hardwick |first=Tim |date=2025-11-21 |title=This Free App Unlocks AirPods Features on Android Devices |url=https://www.macrumors.com/2025/11/21/librepods-unlocks-airpods-features-android/ |url-status=live |archive-url=http://web.archive.org/web/20251218044102/https://www.macrumors.com/2025/11/21/librepods-unlocks-airpods-features-android/ |archive-date=18 Dec 2025|access-date=2026-02-02 |website=MacRumors}}</ref>

==Incidents==
This is a list of all consumer protection incidents related to this product line. Any incidents not mentioned here can be found in the [[:Category:{{PAGENAME}}|{{PAGENAME}} category]].
{{Placeholder box|Replace the placeholder text in the sections below with the incidents that affect this product line and a short summary. Also replace the link so it point to the right company article.}}a link dump for now until myself or someone else does the proper headings:

AirPod max moisture issue:

- https://www.slashgear.com/1918064/what-is-lawsuit-against-apple-airpods-max-headphones/

- https://web.archive.org/web/20250119175742/https://www.reddit.com/r/Airpodsmax/comments/s64ztx/condensation_broke_my_device_apple_says_theres/

- https://discussions.apple.com/thread/252267540?sortBy=rank

AirPod connection vulnerability:

- https://www.headphonesty.com/2024/07/apple-fixes-airpods-flaw-users-risk/

===Example incident one (''date'')===
{{Main|link to the main article}} {{Placeholder box|Short summary of the incident (could be the same as the summary preceding the article).}}

===Example incident two (''date'')===
...

Incidents affecting all of the company's products can be found in the company article: [[Company article]]

==Products==

*AirPods (1st generation) (December 13, 2016<ref name=":0">{{Cite web |date=2 March 2025 |title=Every Apple AirPods Generation: A Full History of Release Dates - IGN |url=https://www.ign.com/articles/all-apple-airpods-release-dates-in-order |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20260104044220/https://www.ign.com/articles/all-apple-airpods-release-dates-in-order |archive-date=2026-01-04 |website=IGN}}</ref>)
*AirPods (2nd generation) (March 20, 2019<ref name=":0" />)
*AirPods Pro (1st generation) (October 30, 2019<ref name=":0" />)
*AirPods Max (December 15, 2020<ref name=":0" />)
*AirPods (3rd generation) (October 26, 2021<ref name=":0" />)
*AirPods Pro 2 (previously 2nd generation) (September 23, 2022<ref name=":0" />)
*AirPods 4/ANC (September 20, 2024<ref name=":0" />)
==See also==
*[[Apple]]
*[[Sony's WF-1000XM4 earbuds]]

==References==
<references />
[[Category:Airpods]]
[[Category:Apple]]

Screenshot blocking

2026-02-25T15:37:56Z

CopyeditorHF: Added citation, minor grammar edits

{{ToneWarning}}{{Incomplete|Issue 1=Makes specific claims without citations}}
'''Screenshot blocking''' prevents the owner of a computing device from capturing screenshots and screen recordings. Some operating systems such as Android OS and iOS let app makers block the device owners from capturing screenshots and screen recordings of certain content. This may be done to prevent copyrighted content from being copied, such as Netflix blocking screenshots of the app<ref name="netflix-vdocipher">{{Cite web |last=Sharma |first=Vishal |date=2026-01-14 |title=Netflix DRM: How & Why of Encrypted Video Security (2025)? |url=https://www.vdocipher.com/blog/2022/05/netflix-drm/ |access-date=2026-02-21 |website=vdocipher |archive-url=http://web.archive.org/web/20251015170902/https://www.vdocipher.com/blog/2022/05/netflix-drm/ |archive-date=15 Oct 2025}}</ref>. However, some instances of screenshot blocking may be seen as excessive and unnecessary in some cases, thus violating ownership of consumers by unreasonably limiting what they are allowed to do with their devices.

==How it works==
Blocking screenshots is typically an in-app technology, not something that automatically applies across all apps or devices. Here's how it works, depending on the platform:

On Android, apps can block screenshots using a flag called: WindowManager.LayoutParams.FLAG_SECURE. When this flag is set on an activity, it prevents the content from being captured in screenshots, screen recordings, and even in the app switcher (recent apps view). This is often used by apps like, banking apps, streaming services (e.g., Netflix), and secure messaging apps.<ref>[https://developer.android.com/reference/android/view/WindowManager.LayoutParams WindowManager.LayoutParams | API reference | Android Developers]</ref><ref name="netflix-vdocipher" />

On iOS, iOS does not give developers an official flag like FLAG_SECURE, but they use workarounds, like displaying sensitive content in a UIView with custom rendering, then hiding or blurring it when the app detects screenshot events or apps going into background or app switcher{{Citation needed}}.

On desktop systems, blocking screenshots is more difficult because users have full control over the operating system, there is no built-in flag to prevent screenshots. Third-party tools or system-level protections are needed. Although, enterprise apps may block screenshots using digital Rights Management (DRM), virtual Desktop Infrastructure (VDI), or overlay detection / screen capture prevention libraries{{Citation needed}}.

==Why it happens==
Companies tend to block screenshots for the following reasons:

'''Protecting sensitive information'''

Apps that handle financial data (banks, payment apps) or confidential documents may block screenshots to reduce the risk of accidental data leaks. Screenshots could be captured and shared without consent, which could expose personal information like account numbers or passwords.

'''Content protection and licensing'''

Media apps (streaming services, e-books, and some news apps) sometimes block screenshots or recordings to prevent piracy or unauthorized redistribution of copyrighted content. Examples include Netflix and Spotify. However, there are legitimate uses such as quotations, which falls under fair use.

'''Privacy of other users'''

Messaging apps may prevent screenshots in certain contexts to protect the privacy of the other party. One such example are "disappearing messages" in WhatsApp.

'''Regulatory or contractual requirements'''

In some industries, companies must comply with legal rules around data protection or digital content licensing, which may include preventing local copies from being made.

==Why it is a problem==

===Impedes ownership===
On desktop operating systems like Windows and Linux, users have always been able to take screenshots or recordings of whatever is on their screen, without programs being able to block it. By contrast, many mobile apps restrict or disable this feature. This raises concerns because it limits a device owner’s ability to fully use their own device. Since a smartphone is personal property, users should retain control over its features, including the ability to capture their own screen rather than having that option dictated by app developers.

===Overuse===
Some apps implement screenshot blocking in situations where it is unnecessary. For example, since 2018, Chrome has blocked screenshots while in incognito mode. It is unclear what this restriction is meant to protect against, given that incognito browsing already functions by not saving history or cookies.
There are also many legitimate reasons to take a screenshot in incognito mode. Developers may need to capture how a website looks to first-time visitors, or users might want to save information temporarily without adding it to their browsing history. In these cases, blocking screenshots serves no meaningful security purpose and only prevents the device owner from using their phone’s features as intended.

==Incidents==

===ALDI TALK===
Earlier in 2025, the German cellular provider ALDI TALK blocked screenshots throughout its entire app.{{CitationNeeded}} The app displays information such as how much high-speed data a subscriber has remaining. Blocking screenshots of such basic information seems unnecessary, and applying the restriction across the entire app because some “private” content might appear in certain sections is excessive.

===WhatsApp===
The developers of [[WhatsApp]] have threatened with blocking screenshots inside chats with "advanced chat privacy" enabled:

<blockquote>
The company has stated that this is the first iteration of the feature, with plans to introduce even more robust protections in future updates, potentially including measures to block screenshots<ref>[https://archive.today/2025.07.07-200053/https://cybersecuritynews.com/whatsapp-advanced-chat-privacy-feature/ WhatsApp’s New Advanced Chat Privacy Feature to Protect Sensitive Conversations]</ref>.
</blockquote>WhatsApp blocked screenshots of profile pictures in 2024, citing it as a measure to protect privacy.<ref>{{Cite web |date=25 Feb 2026 |title=About profile photo screenshot blocking |url=https://faq.whatsapp.com/1799783917198636 |access-date=25 Feb 2026 |website=WhatsApp Help Center}}</ref> However, once a profile picture has been uploaded to WhatApp, it is no longer a private image.

==It's a local file==
When you take a screenshot, the screenshot is stored locally inside the encrypted internal storage of your smartphone, protected with your lockscreen credentials. It is not going to be sent to anyone unless you manually chose to do it. As a local file, it remains fully under your control.

Anyone determined enough can still photograph the screen from an external device. The only difference is that it is in a lower quality, but for alphanumerical stuff like banking details and text-based messages, that doesn't matter.

==External displays==
The "SECURE" flag on Android is responsible for screenshot blocking and screen recording blocking. However, it has another purpose: It prevents content from appearing on external displays such as HDMI and Miracast (over-the-air screen mirroring).

Screen contents can only appear on an external screens if the smartphone owner has chosen to connect an external screen. If the owner does private stuff, they should disconnect the external screen anyway.

Ways to solve this would be to let the user chose which apps can appear on external displays, or let the user decide whether they want to hide content flagged by the app developers as "SECURE".

The "SECURE" flag is not just used to hide "sensitive" content, but also by streaming service providers to prevent screenshots and screen recordings, even though there are legitimate purposes for it (fair use). As a side effect, you can not connect your phone to a TV or monitor to watch on a big screen, so you have to hope the TV has native support for your streaming provider.

In any case, the device owner must have the final say.

==Third-party screen recorders==
Another reason cited for screenshot/screen recorder blocking is the narrow possibility that third-party screen recorder apps contain spyware.

Third-party apps can only capture the screen if the phone owner allows them. It would make sense to let the user decide which third-party apps can capture content marked as "SECURE". But the pre-installed screenshot and screen recording tool should never be blocked because they don't contain spyware (unless the phone maker chose to put it in, in which case you would have a much greater problem). If users wish to guarantee that their screen recorder software does not contain spyware, they can utilise open source screen recorders.

In any case, there is no reason to block the '''built-in''' screenshot and screen recording tools just because misbehaving third-party apps may be out there.

==Screenshot detection==
Android 14 has added a "screenshot event" and Android 15 a "screen recording event." This makes allows apps to register when the owner takes a screenshot or screen recording. An online poll shows most users are opposed to screenshot detection.<ref>[https://www.androidauthority.com/android-14-screenshot-detection-api-3389527/ Android 14's screenshot detection system is getting adopted by more apps] ([http://web.archive.org/web/20251212004411/https://www.androidauthority.com/android-14-screenshot-detection-api-3389527/ Archived])</ref>

==References==
<references />

[[Category:Common terms]]

Screenshot blocking

2026-02-25T15:33:12Z

CopyeditorHF: Grammar typo

{{ToneWarning}}{{Incomplete|Issue 1=Makes specific claims without citations}}
'''Screenshot blocking''' prevents the owner of a computing device from capturing screenshots and screen recordings. Some operating systems such as Android OS and iOS let app makers block the device owners from capturing screenshots and screen recordings of certain content. This may be done to prevent copyrighted content from being copied, such as Netflix blocking screenshots of the app<ref name="netflix-vdocipher">{{Cite web |last=Sharma |first=Vishal |date=2026-01-14 |title=Netflix DRM: How & Why of Encrypted Video Security (2025)? |url=https://www.vdocipher.com/blog/2022/05/netflix-drm/ |access-date=2026-02-21 |website=vdocipher |archive-url=http://web.archive.org/web/20251015170902/https://www.vdocipher.com/blog/2022/05/netflix-drm/ |archive-date=15 Oct 2025}}</ref>. However, some instances of screenshot blocking may be seen as excessive and unnecessary in some cases, thus violating ownership of consumers by unreasonably limiting what they are allowed to do with their devices.

==How it works==
Blocking screenshots is typically an in-app technology, not something that automatically applies across all apps or devices. Here's how it works, depending on the platform:

On Android, apps can block screenshots using a flag called: WindowManager.LayoutParams.FLAG_SECURE. When this flag is set on an activity, it prevents the content from being captured in screenshots, screen recordings, and even in the app switcher (recent apps view). This is often used by apps like, banking apps, streaming services (e.g., Netflix), and secure messaging apps.<ref>[https://developer.android.com/reference/android/view/WindowManager.LayoutParams WindowManager.LayoutParams | API reference | Android Developers]</ref><ref name="netflix-vdocipher" />

On iOS, iOS does not give developers an official flag like FLAG_SECURE, but they use workarounds, like displaying sensitive content in a UIView with custom rendering, then hiding or blurring it when the app detects screenshot events or apps going into background or app switcher{{Citation needed}}.

On desktop systems, blocking screenshots is more difficult because users have full control over the operating system, there is no built-in flag to prevent screenshots. Third-party tools or system-level protections are needed. Although, enterprise apps may block screenshots using digital Rights Management (DRM), virtual Desktop Infrastructure (VDI), or overlay detection / screen capture prevention libraries{{Citation needed}}.

==Why it happens==
Companies tend to block screenshots for the following reasons:

'''Protecting sensitive information'''

Apps that handle financial data (banks, payment apps) or confidential documents may block screenshots to reduce the risk of accidental data leaks. Screenshots could be captured and shared without consent, which could expose personal information like account numbers or passwords.

'''Content protection and licensing'''

Media apps (streaming services, e-books, and some news apps) sometimes block screenshots or recordings to prevent piracy or unauthorized redistribution of copyrighted content. Examples include Netflix and Spotify. However, there are legitimate uses such as quotations, which falls under fair use.

'''Privacy of other users'''

Messaging apps may prevent screenshots in certain contexts to protect the privacy of the other party. One such example are "disappearing messages" in WhatsApp.

'''Regulatory or contractual requirements'''

In some industries, companies must comply with legal rules around data protection or digital content licensing, which may include preventing local copies from being made.

==Why it is a problem==

===Impedes ownership===
On desktop operating systems like Windows and Linux, users have always been able to take screenshots or recordings of whatever is on their screen, without programs being able to block it. By contrast, many mobile apps restrict or disable this feature. This raises concerns because it limits a device owner’s ability to fully use their own device. Since a smartphone is personal property, users should retain control over its features, including the ability to capture their own screen rather than having that option dictated by app developers.

===Overuse===
Some apps implement screenshot blocking in situations where it is unnecessary. For example, since 2018, Chrome has blocked screenshots while in incognito mode. It is unclear what this restriction is meant to protect against, given that incognito browsing already functions by not saving history or cookies.
There are also many legitimate reasons to take a screenshot in incognito mode. Developers may need to capture how a website looks to first-time visitors, or users might want to save information temporarily without adding it to their browsing history. In these cases, blocking screenshots serves no meaningful security purpose and only prevents the device owner from using their phone’s features as intended.

==Incidents==

===ALDI TALK===
Earlier in 2025, the German cellular provider ALDI TALK blocked screenshots throughout its entire app.{{CitationNeeded}} The app displays information such as how much high-speed data a subscriber has remaining. Blocking screenshots of such basic information seems unnecessary, and applying the restriction across the entire app because some “private” content might appear in certain sections is excessive.

===WhatsApp===
The developers of [[WhatsApp]] have threatened with blocking screenshots inside chats with "advanced chat privacy" enabled:

<blockquote>
The company has stated that this is the first iteration of the feature, with plans to introduce even more robust protections in future updates, potentially including measures to block screenshots<ref>[https://archive.today/2025.07.07-200053/https://cybersecuritynews.com/whatsapp-advanced-chat-privacy-feature/ WhatsApp’s New Advanced Chat Privacy Feature to Protect Sensitive Conversations]</ref>.
</blockquote>WhatsApp blocked screenshots of profile pictures in 2024, citing it as a measure to protect privacy. However, once a profile picture is uploaded to WhatApp, it is no longer a private image.

==It's a local file==
When you take a screenshot, the screenshot is stored locally inside the encrypted internal storage of your smartphone, protected with your lockscreen credentials. It is not going to be sent to anyone unless you manually chose to do it. As a local file, it remains fully under your control.

Anyone determined enough can still photograph the screen from an external device. The only difference is that it is in a lower quality, but for alphanumerical stuff like banking details and text-based messages, that doesn't matter.

==External displays==
The "SECURE" flag on Android is responsible for screenshot blocking and screen recording blocking. However, it has another purpose: It prevents content from appearing on external displays such as HDMI and Miracast (over-the-air screen mirroring).

Screen contents can only appear on an external screens if the smartphone owner has chosen to connect an external screen. If the owner does private stuff, they should disconnect the external screen anyway.

Ways to solve this would be to let the user chose which apps can appear on external displays, or let the user decide whether they want to hide content flagged by the app developers as "SECURE".

The "SECURE" flag is not just used to hide "sensitive" content, but also by streaming service providers to prevent screenshots and screen recordings, even though there are legitimate purposes for it (fair use). As a side effect, you can not connect your phone to a TV or monitor to watch on a big screen, so you have to hope the TV has native support for your streaming provider.

In any case, the device owner must have the final say.

==Third-party screen recorders==
Another reason cited for screenshot/screen recorder blocking is the narrow possibility that third-party screen recorder apps contain spyware.

Third-party apps can only capture the screen if the phone owner allows them. It would make sense to let the user decide which third-party apps can capture content marked as "SECURE". But the pre-installed screenshot and screen recording tool should never be blocked because they don't contain spyware (unless the phone maker chose to put it in, in which case you would have a much greater problem). If users wish to guarantee that their screen recorder software does not contain spyware, they can utilise open source screen recorders.

In any case, there is no reason to block the '''built-in''' screenshot and screen recording tools just because misbehaving third-party apps may be out there.

==Screenshot detection==
Android 14 has added a "screenshot event" and Android 15 a "screen recording event." This makes allows apps to register when the owner takes a screenshot or screen recording. An online poll shows most users are opposed to screenshot detection.<ref>[https://www.androidauthority.com/android-14-screenshot-detection-api-3389527/ Android 14's screenshot detection system is getting adopted by more apps] ([http://web.archive.org/web/20251212004411/https://www.androidauthority.com/android-14-screenshot-detection-api-3389527/ Archived])</ref>

==References==
<references />

[[Category:Common terms]]

Screenshot blocking

2026-02-25T15:32:36Z

CopyeditorHF: Deleted irrelevant argumentation, i.e., opinion based, and reworded the reasoning in a more neutral manner. Removed unnecessary scare quote.

{{ToneWarning}}{{Incomplete|Issue 1=Makes specific claims without citations}}
'''Screenshot blocking''' prevents the owner of a computing device from capturing screenshots and screen recordings. Some operating systems such as Android OS and iOS let app makers block the device owners from capturing screenshots and screen recordings of certain content. This may be done to prevent copyrighted content from being copied, such as Netflix blocking screenshots of the app<ref name="netflix-vdocipher">{{Cite web |last=Sharma |first=Vishal |date=2026-01-14 |title=Netflix DRM: How & Why of Encrypted Video Security (2025)? |url=https://www.vdocipher.com/blog/2022/05/netflix-drm/ |access-date=2026-02-21 |website=vdocipher |archive-url=http://web.archive.org/web/20251015170902/https://www.vdocipher.com/blog/2022/05/netflix-drm/ |archive-date=15 Oct 2025}}</ref>. However, some instances of screenshot blocking may be seen as excessive and unnecessary in some cases, thus violating ownership of consumers by unreasonably limiting what they are allowed to do with their devices.

==How it works==
Blocking screenshots is typically an in-app technology, not something that automatically applies across all apps or devices. Here's how it works, depending on the platform:

On Android, apps can block screenshots using a flag called: WindowManager.LayoutParams.FLAG_SECURE. When this flag is set on an activity, it prevents the content from being captured in screenshots, screen recordings, and even in the app switcher (recent apps view). This is often used by apps like, banking apps, streaming services (e.g., Netflix), and secure messaging apps.<ref>[https://developer.android.com/reference/android/view/WindowManager.LayoutParams WindowManager.LayoutParams | API reference | Android Developers]</ref><ref name="netflix-vdocipher" />

On iOS, iOS does not give developers an official flag like FLAG_SECURE, but they use workarounds, like displaying sensitive content in a UIView with custom rendering, then hiding or blurring it when the app detects screenshot events or apps going into background or app switcher{{Citation needed}}.

On desktop systems, blocking screenshots is more difficult because users have full control over the operating system, there is no built-in flag to prevent screenshots. Third-party tools or system-level protections are needed. Although, enterprise apps may block screenshots using digital Rights Management (DRM), virtual Desktop Infrastructure (VDI), or overlay detection / screen capture prevention libraries{{Citation needed}}.

==Why it happens==
Companies tend to block screenshots for the following reasons:

'''Protecting sensitive information'''

Apps that handle financial data (banks, payment apps) or confidential documents may block screenshots to reduce the risk of accidental data leaks. Screenshots could be captured and shared without consent, which could expose personal information like account numbers or passwords.

'''Content protection and licensing'''

Media apps (streaming services, e-books, and some news apps) sometimes block screenshots or recordings to prevent piracy or unauthorized redistribution of copyrighted content. Examples include Netflix and Spotify. However, there are legitimate uses such as quotations, which falls under fair use.

'''Privacy of other users'''

Messaging apps may prevent screenshots in certain contexts to protect the privacy of the other party. One such example are "disappearing messages" in WhatsApp.

'''Regulatory or contractual requirements'''

In some industries, companies must comply with legal rules around data protection or digital content licensing, which may include preventing local copies from being made.

==Why it is a problem==

===Impedes ownership===
On desktop operating systems like Windows and Linux, users have always been able to take screenshots or recordings of whatever is on their screen, without programs being able to block it. By contrast, many mobile apps restrict or disable this feature. This raises concerns because it limits a device owner’s ability to fully use their own device. Since a smartphone is personal property, users should retain control over its features, including the ability to capture their own screen rather than having that option dictated by app developers.

===Overuse===
Some apps implement screenshot blocking in situations where it is unnecessary. For example, since 2018, Chrome has blocked screenshots while in incognito mode. It is unclear what this restriction is meant to protect against, given that incognito browsing already functions by not saving history or cookies.
There are also many legitimate reasons to take a screenshot in incognito mode. Developers may need to capture how a website looks to first-time visitors, or users might want to save information temporarily without adding it to their browsing history. In these cases, blocking screenshots serves no meaningful security purpose and only prevents the device owner from using their phone’s features as intended.

==Incidents==

===ALDI TALK===
Earlier in 2025, the German cellular provider ALDI TALK blocked screenshots throughout its entire app.{{CitationNeeded}} The app displays information such as how much high-speed data a subscriber has remaining. Blocking screenshots of such basic information seems unnecessary, and applying the restriction across the entire app because some “private” content might appear in certain sections is excessive.

===WhatsApp===
The developers of [[WhatsApp]] have threatened with blocking screenshots inside chats with "advanced chat privacy" enabled:

<blockquote>
The company has stated that this is the first iteration of the feature, with plans to introduce even more robust protections in future updates, potentially including measures to block screenshots<ref>[https://archive.today/2025.07.07-200053/https://cybersecuritynews.com/whatsapp-advanced-chat-privacy-feature/ WhatsApp’s New Advanced Chat Privacy Feature to Protect Sensitive Conversations]</ref>.
</blockquote>WhatsApp blocked screenshots of profile pictures in 2024, citing it as a measure to protecting privacy. However, once a profile picture is uploaded to WhatApp, it is no longer a private image.

==It's a local file==
When you take a screenshot, the screenshot is stored locally inside the encrypted internal storage of your smartphone, protected with your lockscreen credentials. It is not going to be sent to anyone unless you manually chose to do it. As a local file, it remains fully under your control.

Anyone determined enough can still photograph the screen from an external device. The only difference is that it is in a lower quality, but for alphanumerical stuff like banking details and text-based messages, that doesn't matter.

==External displays==
The "SECURE" flag on Android is responsible for screenshot blocking and screen recording blocking. However, it has another purpose: It prevents content from appearing on external displays such as HDMI and Miracast (over-the-air screen mirroring).

Screen contents can only appear on an external screens if the smartphone owner has chosen to connect an external screen. If the owner does private stuff, they should disconnect the external screen anyway.

Ways to solve this would be to let the user chose which apps can appear on external displays, or let the user decide whether they want to hide content flagged by the app developers as "SECURE".

The "SECURE" flag is not just used to hide "sensitive" content, but also by streaming service providers to prevent screenshots and screen recordings, even though there are legitimate purposes for it (fair use). As a side effect, you can not connect your phone to a TV or monitor to watch on a big screen, so you have to hope the TV has native support for your streaming provider.

In any case, the device owner must have the final say.

==Third-party screen recorders==
Another reason cited for screenshot/screen recorder blocking is the narrow possibility that third-party screen recorder apps contain spyware.

Third-party apps can only capture the screen if the phone owner allows them. It would make sense to let the user decide which third-party apps can capture content marked as "SECURE". But the pre-installed screenshot and screen recording tool should never be blocked because they don't contain spyware (unless the phone maker chose to put it in, in which case you would have a much greater problem). If users wish to guarantee that their screen recorder software does not contain spyware, they can utilise open source screen recorders.

In any case, there is no reason to block the '''built-in''' screenshot and screen recording tools just because misbehaving third-party apps may be out there.

==Screenshot detection==
Android 14 has added a "screenshot event" and Android 15 a "screen recording event." This makes allows apps to register when the owner takes a screenshot or screen recording. An online poll shows most users are opposed to screenshot detection.<ref>[https://www.androidauthority.com/android-14-screenshot-detection-api-3389527/ Android 14's screenshot detection system is getting adopted by more apps] ([http://web.archive.org/web/20251212004411/https://www.androidauthority.com/android-14-screenshot-detection-api-3389527/ Archived])</ref>

==References==
<references />

[[Category:Common terms]]

Microsoft Office 365

2026-02-25T15:30:17Z

CopyeditorHF: /* Microsoft Copilot on by default */ Tonal edits, reworded to present the information in more professional language.

{{Incomplete|Issue 1= Lack of citations and references| Issue 2=Bottom section needs to be reworked to fit within wiki standards }}{{ToneWarning}}
{{ProductLineCargo
|ArticleType=Service
|Category=Software
|Company=Microsoft
|Description=
|InProduction=Yes
|Logo=Microsoft 365 (2022).svg.png
|ReleaseYear=2010
|Website=https://www.office.com/
}}

'''[[wikipedia:Microsoft_365|Microsoft 365]]''' (previously named Office 365) is a family of software, including Microsoft Word, Microsoft PowerPoint, and Microsoft Excel. The branding '''Office 365''' was introduced in 2010 to refer to its subscription-based [[software as a service]], including hosted services such as Office on the web.

In 2017, it was renamed to Microsoft 365.<ref>[["Microsoft Office 365 is a part of Microsoft 365".]] ''microsoft.com''. [https://web.archive.org/web/20201022030805/https://www.microsoft.com/en-us/microsoft-365/office-365 Archived] from the original on 2020-10-22. Retrieved 2026-02-20.</ref>

==Consumer Impact Summary==
{{Placeholder box|Overview of concerns that arise from the conduct towards users of the product (if applicable):
* User Freedom
* User Privacy
* Business Model
* Market Control}}

==Incidents==

===Microsoft Copilot on by default===
In the current version of Office 365, Microsoft Copilot is turned on by default. It can be turned off in some of the Office applications' options, such as Word, PowerPoint, and Excel.

===Copilot up-sell (Oct. 2024)===
Microsoft has been accused of misleading customers from around October 2024 by suggesting they had to move to higher-priced Microsoft 365 personal and family plans that included Copilot.<ref name=":0">{{Cite web |date=2025-10-27 |title=Australia sues Microsoft over AI-linked subscription price hikes |url=https://www.reuters.com/world/asia-pacific/australia-takes-microsoft-court-says-it-misled-27-million-customers-2025-10-26/ |url-status=live |access-date=2025-10-28 |website=Reuters}}</ref><ref name="video-explanation" />

In January 2025, YouTuber Atomic Shrimp reported<ref name="video-explanation">{{cite web|author=Atomic Shrimp|title=Microsoft’s Sneaky Forced-Upsell to 365 Users; If You Don’t Need/Want Copilot, Don’t Pay for It|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eYVPThx7yss|website=Youtube|date=25 Jan 2025|access-date=25 Feb 2025|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250225115451/https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eYVPThx7yss%2A|archive-date=25 Feb 2025}}</ref> that Microsoft had enacted a "forced up-sell" of 365's new AI Copilot feature. Users with basic accounts (now called "Classic"), such as Shrimp himself, had been informed their subscription fee was going up, but that they would enjoy new features as a result, including Copilot. In his efforts to disable Copilot, Shrimp subsequently discovered that Microsoft now offered "Classic" plans, identical to the old basic plans both in features and in subscription fee. The option to downgrade to Classic, however, was only clearly visible to enterprise users, not to personal users. In essence Microsoft upgraded users' plans without their consent and hid the option to downgrade. While Atomic Shrimp's video suggested contacting support to revert to the "Classic" plan, it is possible to downgrade a personal account through the website via the cancellation process.

In October 2025, the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission (ACCC) sued Microsoft over the change, accusing it of misleading about 2.7 million customers.<ref name=":0" /> "The ACCC alleges that since 31 October 2024, Microsoft has told subscribers of Microsoft 365 Personal and Family plans with auto-renewal enabled that to maintain their subscription they must accept the integration of Copilot and pay higher prices for their plan, or, alternatively, cancel their subscription. The ACCC alleges this information provided to subscribers was false or misleading because there was an undisclosed third option, the Microsoft 365 Personal or Family Classic plans, which allowed subscribers to retain the features of their existing plan, without Copilot, at the previous lower price."<ref>{{Cite web |date=2025-10-27 |title=Microsoft in court for allegedly misleading millions of Australians over Microsoft 365 subscriptions |url=https://www.accc.gov.au/media-release/microsoft-in-court-for-allegedly-misleading-millions-of-australians-over-microsoft-365-subscriptions |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20251216025233/https://www.accc.gov.au/media-release/microsoft-in-court-for-allegedly-misleading-millions-of-australians-over-microsoft-365-subscriptions |archive-date=2025-12-16 |website=Australian Competition & Consumer Commission (ACCC)}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Federal Court of Australia |date=2025-10-27 |title=ACCC V Microsoft Concise Statement |url=https://www.accc.gov.au/system/files/accc-v-microsoft-concise-statement-27-october-2025.pdf |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20251114100116/https://www.accc.gov.au/system/files/accc-v-microsoft-concise-statement-27-october-2025.pdf |archive-date=2025-11-14 |website=Australian Competiton & Consumer Commission}}</ref>

===File Request===
File request, a common feature in other cloud service providers' ''free'' plans, that allows you to invite users to anonymously upload files to a designated cloud folder (e.g., group vacation photos) is only available in personal plans if every uploader is logged-in to a Microsoft account. If you want anonymous uploads, you have to upgrade to a One Drive for Business-Account. Since this is a common feature in other providers' free private plans (e.g. Dropbox), consumers subconsciously expect it to be a feature in paid personal OneDrive plans of the highest tier, but it's not offered.

===Obfuscation of local saving in favor of OneDrive===
Since the introduction of Office 365, saving files locally has been made more difficult due to Windows favoring of OneDrive, its cloud-based storage service. When saving a file previously, the user would encounter the save dialog with a pop-up to browse their computer and choose a file-storage location. This is now multiple clicks away, making it harder to avoid saving the file on OneDrive.

Files on one's computer are also automatically uploaded to OneDrive by default, causing numerous issues (such as synchronization errors and duplicate files). Turning off this automatic backup is not user-friendly, as the user must navigate multiple settings to disable this option.

The user can go into Options > Save > Set the check mark on "save locally as default". This still requires multiple clicks to save a file, but the cloud options are marginally less intrusive.

===Forced Diagnostic Data Transmission===
Versions other than the Enterprise or Education volume licensing editions do not allow turning telemetry off fully. Moreover, the setting is configured to the least private setting by default.

Office transmits data about 23 000 to 25 000 different types of events<ref>https://www.privacycompany.eu/blog/impact-assessment-shows-privacy-risks-microsoft-office-proplus-enterprise ([http://web.archive.org/web/20251218014735/https://www.privacycompany.eu/blog/impact-assessment-shows-privacy-risks-microsoft-office-proplus-enterprise Archived])</ref> (other reports in context of the German BSI audit speak of 30 000 types of events) to Microsoft. Microsoft can adjust the level of detail transmitted remotely. This can go up to every single keystroke being broadcast live to Microsoft servers in the background.

Given that it is not uncommon in some countries even for hospital to run consumer versions of the software, the privacy implications are tremendous. It cannot reasonably be assumed that any data entered into nor any interaction with a Microsoft Office application will stay private.

===Publisher Removal from Microsoft 365 Computers (Oct. 2026)===
In October 2026, Microsoft will be removing Publisher from computers<ref>{{Cite web |last=Poremsky |first=Diane |date=2025-03-31 |title=Can people keep using Microsoft Publisher unsupported after the end of support date in October 2026 |url=https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/answers/questions/5389573/can-people-keep-using-microsoft-publisher-unsuppor |archive-url=http://web.archive.org/web/20251124135927/https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/answers/questions/5389573/can-people-keep-using-microsoft-publisher-unsuppor |archive-date=24 Nov 2025}}</ref> with Microsoft 365 as part of their "end of support" of the application.

===Automatically saving Word Documents to the Cloud (August 2025)===
In its company blog, Microsoft announced that Word would from now on create documents and save their autosave information to Microsoft servers by default. This setting can be manually reconfigured to use the local computer.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Munoz |first=Raoul |date=2025-08-26 |title=Save new files automatically to the cloud in Word for Windows |url=https://techcommunity.microsoft.com/blog/microsoft365insiderblog/save-new-files-automatically-to-the-cloud-in-word-for-windows/4445216 |access-date=2025-08-28 |website=Microsoft 365 Insider Blog |archive-url=http://web.archive.org/web/20260131230010/https://techcommunity.microsoft.com/blog/microsoft365insiderblog/save-new-files-automatically-to-the-cloud-in-word-for-windows/4445216 |archive-date=31 Jan 2026}}</ref>

This leads to all information in the document being uploaded to Microsoft servers even before a user has the chance to select local storage when first saving the document.

==How to avoid Price Increase (At least for Microsoft 365 Personal Subscriptions)==
[[File:Screenshot 2025-04-05 205541.jpg|thumb|Cancel Microsoft 365 Personal Screenshot, showing the cheaper subscription plan]]
If you currently have a "Microsoft 365 Personal" subscription, and don't want to pay the $30 price increase, there is a way to "revert" back to the $69.99 subscription. Sign in to your Microsoft account, and go to your current subscriptions. Click on your "Microsoft 365 Personal" subscription, then click on cancel subscription. It will then give you the option to switch to the "Microsoft 365 Personal Classic" subscription (see image to right for reference), which is Microsoft's new name for what was the "Microsoft 365 Personal" subscription. There is a [https://www.reddit.com/r/microsoft/comments/1i7jrek/microsoft_365_personal_goes_up_in_price_by_30/ reddit thread] on how to do this, which is linked if you want to read through it as well.

==See also==
*[[Software as a service]]
*[[Dark pattern]]
*[[Microsoft]]

==References==

[[Category:Microsoft Office]]
[[Category:Subscription-based services]]
[[Category:Microsoft]]
<references />

Discord

2026-02-25T14:42:59Z

CopyeditorHF: Creating more uniform formatting for bullet points

{{ToneWarning}}
{{CompanyCargo
|Description=American technology company that runs a platform for messaging and calling targeted towards gamers.
|Founded=2015
|Industry=Software, Social Media
|Logo=Discord.svg
|ParentCompany=
|Type=Private
|Website=https://discord.com
}}
'''Discord''' is a proprietary VoIP and instant-messaging platform developed by Discord Inc. (formerly Hammer & Chisel, Inc.), co-founded by Jason Citron and Stanislav Vishnevskiy.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Gonzalez |first=Guadalupe |date=3 May 2018 |title=There Are 2.6 Billion Online Gamers in the World. This Startup Just May Connect Them All |url=https://www.inc.com/guadalupe-gonzalez/30-under-30-2018-discord.html |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180503131556/https://www.inc.com/guadalupe-gonzalez/30-under-30-2018-discord.html |archive-date=3 May 2018 |access-date=13 Jul 2025 |website=Inc.}}</ref> Launched in 2015, the service has grown to over 150 million monthly active users as of 2025. While initially marketed towards PC gamers, Discord has expanded to multiple platforms, serving various communities and use cases, including education.<ref name="about-company">{{Cite web |date=15 Apr 2024 |title=About Discord <nowiki>|</nowiki> Our Mission and Values |url=https://discord.com/company/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250608013037/https://discord.com/company |archive-date=8 Jun 2025 |access-date=13 Jul 2025 |website=Discord}}</ref>

In April 2025, Humam Sakhnini (formerly King, Activision Blizzard) replaced Jason Citron as CEO.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Discord Appoints Humam Sakhnini as Chief Executive Officer |url=https://discord.com/press-releases/discord-appoints-new-ceo-humam-sakhnini |url-status=live |archive-url=http://web.archive.org/web/20260124072250/https://discord.com/press-releases/discord-appoints-new-ceo-humam-sakhnini |archive-date=24 Jan 2026}}</ref>

==Consumer Impact Summary==

===Privacy<ref name="terms-of-service3">[https://discord.com/terms/ "Discord's Terms of Service"]. April 15, 2024. ''Discord''. Retrieved January 16, 2025. ([https://web.archive.org/web/20260216033955/https://discord.com/terms/ Archived])</ref>===
Mentioned within the '''Discord ToS<ref name="terms-of-service3" />''' and '''Privacy Policy''':<ref name="privacy-policy3">[https://discord.com/privacy/ "Discord Privacy Policy"]. April 15, 2024. ([https://web.archive.org/web/20260216034021/https://discord.com/privacy/ Archived]) ''Discord''. Retrieved January 16, 2025.</ref><ref name="community-guidelines2">[https://discord.com/guidelines/ "Discord Community Guidelines"]. April 15, 2024. ''Discord''. Retrieved January 16, 2025. ([http://web.archive.org/web/20260216015550/https://discord.com/guidelines Archived])</ref>
*Collects a variety of user data, such as contact details; user generated messages and posts, including drafts; voice messages; payment information; server participation; device information, such as games being playing; log and event information related to use of Discord services as well as information from cookies and third party sources<ref>{{Cite web |date=2025-08-29 |title=Privacy Policy: The information we collect |url=https://discord.com/privacy#3 |url-status=live |access-date=2026-02-20 |website=Discord |archive-url=http://web.archive.org/web/20260128220720/https://discord.com/privacy |archive-date=28 Jan 2026}}</ref>
*Claims broad rights to user-generated content
*Stores deleted messages for undefined periods
*Retains personal information until deemed "no longer needed"
*Processes user content for "safety features and platform improvement"
*Shares data with related companies, vendors, and third-party service providers
*Opt-out behavioral tracking across platform features for personalization
*Maintains logs of IP addresses and device information for an undetermined amount of time, flags any user who has ever signed in with an EU IP address for inclusion within DSA transparency reports
*Sends a web request when any UI element is clicked and when typing
In 2019, Discord started requiring phone verification. The account will be locked until a phone number is added, regardless of account age or recent activity. The account will be automatically locked if the phone number is removed.<ref>[https://archive.today/2022.10.28-141642/https://wowana.me/blog/guess-im-done-with-discord.xht guess I'm done with Discord – wowana.me]</ref><ref>[https://archive.today/2025.08.31-190346/https://cadence.moe/blog/2020-06-06-why-you-shouldnt-trust-discord Why you shouldn't trust Discord - cadence's weblog (personal blog)]</ref>

===Freedom===
In order to use Discord, users must agree to the '''Discord ToS<ref name="terms-of-service3" />''' and '''Privacy Policy''', which includes agreeing to:<ref name="privacy-policy3" />
*Mandatory [[Forced arbitration|binding arbitration]] with [[class action|class-action]] waiver for U.S. users (From 19 October 2018)
*Granting a perpetual, transferable license to user content
*Broad terms of service, which allow for unilateral changes
*Termination of user accounts without prior notice at Discord's discretion
*No option to opt out of core data collection while using the service
*Discord possibly retaining content even after deletion by the user
Additionally, server owners have limited recourse if their servers are banned, and users are required to use Discord's payment processing for all monetary transactions.

===Transparency===
Discord's terms of service are lengthy and complex. In October 2025, the base terms are 29 pages long, with a reading level of 14th grade (equivalent to two years of tertiary education) and an estimated reading time of 42 minutes.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Calculated using readabilitychecker.com based on current discord TOS. discord.com/terms |url=https://readabilitychecker.com/url |access-date=9 Oct 2025 |url-status=live |archive-url=http://web.archive.org/web/20260210185029/https://readabilitychecker.com/url |archive-date=10 Feb 2026}}</ref> The 2021 version of Discord's ToS would take an estimated 275+ hours to read.<ref>{{Cite web |title=EULA of despair |url=https://www.pilotlab.org/eulas-of-despair |access-date=9 Oct 2025 |website=Penn State University Pilot Lab |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20260216034102/https://www.pilotlab.org/eulas-of-despair |archive-date=16 Feb 2026}}</ref>

Mentioned within the '''Discord Privacy Policy'''<ref name="privacy-policy3" /> and '''Community Guidelines''':<ref name="community-guidelines2" />
*Unclear processes for handling law enforcement requests
*Vague about data retention time frames
*Limited transparency regarding content moderation decisions<ref name=":0">{{Cite web |title=BBB - Discord, Inc. |url=https://www.bbb.org/us/ca/san-francisco/profile/computer-software/discord-inc-1116-918699 |access-date=Aug 2, 2025 |website=Better Business Bureau |url-status=live |archive-url=http://web.archive.org/web/20260210184246/https://www.bbb.org/us/ca/san-francisco/profile/computer-software/discord-inc-1116-918699 |archive-date=10 Feb 2026}}</ref><ref name=":1">{{Cite web |title=Trustpilot - Discord |url=https://www.trustpilot.com/review/discord.com |access-date=Aug 2, 2025 |website=Trustpilot |url-status=live |archive-url=http://web.archive.org/web/20251112025215/https://www.trustpilot.com/review/discord.com |archive-date=12 Nov 2025}}</ref>
**Offending content not always displayed to the user, including metadata, filenames, timestamps, or the channel where it was posted
**No limits or restrictions on the age of content (e.g., users can be suspended due to something sent 1500 days ago)
*Lack of transparency in the server ban appeals process<ref name=":0" /><ref name=":1" />
*Limited disclosure of recommendation algorithm factors
*No clear disclosure of how the content is used for platform improvement
==Incidents==
===Introduction of forced arbitration (Oct. 2018)===
In October 2018, [[forced arbitration]] was added to the [[Terms of Service|terms of service]]. Users could opt out by sending an 'opt-out notice' to arbitration-opt-out@discord.com within 90 days of the ToS going in effect or registering their first account.'''<ref name="terms-of-service3" />'''

===Child safety concerns (June 2023)===
An [[wikipedia:NBC News|NBC News]] investigation in June 2023 uncovered widespread child safety issues on Discord, revealing systemic problems with the platform's user protection measures.

Investigators identified 35 separate cases where adults were criminally charged with "kidnapping, grooming, or sexual assault" involving contacts initiated through Discord. Additionally, 165 criminal prosecutions involving the sharing of child sexual exploitation material (CSAM) on the platform were documented.<ref><templatestyles src="Module:Citation/CS1/styles.css"></templatestyles><cite id="CITEREFGoggin2023" class="citation web cs1">Goggin, Ben (21 Jun 2023). [https://www.nbcnews.com/tech/social-media/discord-child-safety-social-platform-challenges-rcna89769 "Child predators are using Discord, a popular app among teens, for sextortion and abductions"]. ''NBC News''. [https://web.archive.org/web/20230621152318/https://www.nbcnews.com/tech/social-media/discord-child-safety-social-platform-challenges-rcna89769 Archived] from the original on 21 Jun 2023. Retrieved 13 Jul 2025.</cite><span title="ctx_ver=Z39.88-2004&rft_val_fmt=info%3Aofi%2Ffmt%3Akev%3Amtx%3Ajournal&rft.genre=unknown&rft.jtitle=NBC+News&rft.atitle=Child+predators+are+using+Discord%2C+a+popular+app+among+teens%2C+for+sextortion+and+abductions&rft.date=2023-06-21&rft.aulast=Goggin&rft.aufirst=Ben&rft_id=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.nbcnews.com%2Ftech%2Fsocial-media%2Fdiscord-child-safety-social-platform-challenges-rcna89769&rfr_id=info%3Asid%2Fconsumerrights.wiki%3ADiscord" class="Z3988"></ref>

===FTC data collection investigation (Sept. 2024)===
In September 2024, the [[Federal Trade Commission]] (FTC) released a comprehensive report examining Discord's data collection practices as part of a broader investigation into the data collection practices of social media platforms.<ref><templatestyles src="Module:Citation/CS1/styles.css"></templatestyles><cite class="citation web cs1">[https://www.ftc.gov/system/files/ftc_gov/pdf/Social-Media-6b-Report-9-11-2024.pdf "A Look Behind the Screens: Examining the Data Practices of Social Media and Video Streaming Services"] (PDF). ''Federal Trade Commission''. 11 Sep 2024. [https://web.archive.org/web/20240919133855/https://www.ftc.gov/system/files/ftc_gov/pdf/Social-Media-6b-Report-9-11-2024.pdf Archived] (PDF) from the original on 19 Sep 2024. Retrieved 13 Jul 2025.</cite><span title="ctx_ver=Z39.88-2004&rft_val_fmt=info%3Aofi%2Ffmt%3Akev%3Amtx%3Ajournal&rft.genre=unknown&rft.jtitle=Federal+Trade+Commission&rft.atitle=A+Look+Behind+the+Screens%3A+Examining+the+Data+Practices+of+Social+Media+and+Video+Streaming+Services&rft.date=2024-09-11&rft_id=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.ftc.gov%2Fsystem%2Ffiles%2Fftc_gov%2Fpdf%2FSocial-Media-6b-Report-9-11-2024.pdf&rfr_id=info%3Asid%2Fconsumerrights.wiki%3ADiscord" class="Z3988"></ref>

The investigation revealed Discord collects extensive user data, including:
*Message content and metadata
*Voice-chat participation
*Server membership and activity
*Device and location information
Particular concern was raised about:
*[https://www.ecfr.gov/current/title-16/chapter-I/subchapter-C/part-312 Collection of data from users under 13]
*Handling of minors' user information
*Inadequate age-verification systems
The FTC identified multiple areas where Discord's practices put users at risk:
*Identity theft exposure
*Potential stalking risks
*Discrimination concerns
*Mental health and emotional impact

The FTC concluded that Discord's data practices posed unacceptable risks to users, particularly minors, and recommended significant reforms to the platform's privacy protection measures.<ref><templatestyles src="Module:Citation/CS1/styles.css"></templatestyles><cite id="CITEREFTolentino2024" class="citation web cs1">Tolentino, Daysia (19 Sep 2024). [https://www.nbcnews.com/tech/security/social-media-companies-engaged-vast-surveillance-ftc-finds-calling-sta-rcna171814 "Social media companies engaged in 'vast surveillance,' FTC finds, calling status quo 'unacceptable'"]. ''NBC News''. [https://web.archive.org/web/20240919171049/https://www.nbcnews.com/tech/security/social-media-companies-engaged-vast-surveillance-ftc-finds-calling-sta-rcna171814 Archived] from the original on 19 Sep 2024. Retrieved 13 Jul 2025.</cite><span title="ctx_ver=Z39.88-2004&rft_val_fmt=info%3Aofi%2Ffmt%3Akev%3Amtx%3Ajournal&rft.genre=unknown&rft.jtitle=NBC+News&rft.atitle=Social+media+companies+engaged+in+%27vast+surveillance%2C%27+FTC+finds%2C+calling+status+quo+%27unacceptable%27&rft.date=2024-09-19&rft.aulast=Tolentino&rft.aufirst=Daysia&rft_id=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.nbcnews.com%2Ftech%2Fsecurity%2Fsocial-media-companies-engaged-vast-surveillance-ftc-finds-calling-sta-rcna171814&rfr_id=info%3Asid%2Fconsumerrights.wiki%3ADiscord" class="Z3988"></ref>

===Reinforcement of forced arbitration (Sept. 2025)===
Announced August 29th, 2025, and put into effect September 29th, 2025, Discord updated and re-iterated their [[forced arbitration]] clause but gave users another option to opt-out of forced arbitration until October 29th, 2025, for existing accounts, or 30 days after initial agreement for new accounts.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2025-09-29 |title=Discord's Terms of Service |url=https://discord.com/terms#16 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20251007023150/https://discord.com/terms#16 |archive-date=2025-10-07 |access-date=2025-10-07 |website=Discord.com}}</ref> Users are automatically opted into the forced arbitration clause unless they take specific action to opt out of it within 30 days. Instead, if users chose to delete their accounts, the platform required them to accept the terms in order to access their account, from which they could then delete it, making acceptance of the new terms mandatory.
[[File:Discord Forced Arbitration 1.png|alt=An example of Discord forcing users to agree to arbitration if they want to continue using the application.|thumb|(2025-09-29) An example of Discord forcing users to agree to arbitration if they want to continue using the application. The terms of service at the time of this screenshot includes forced arbitration and disallows users from filing a class-action lawsuit.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Discord |date=2025-09-29 |title=Terms of Service {{!}} Discord |url=https://discord.com/terms |url-status=live |access-date=2025-09-29 |website=Discord}} ([http://web.archive.org/web/20260222174800/https://discord.com/terms Archived])</ref>]]

===Third-Party Customer Service Data Breach (Oct. 2025)===
{{Main|Discord / 5CA Data Breach}}
In October 2025, Discord issued a press release announcing a "Security Incident Involving Third-Party Customer Service [5CA]", in which "the unauthorized party [...] gained access to a small number of government‑ID images (e.g., driver’s license, passport) from users who had appealed an age determination," as well as other personal data provided to support.<ref name=":2">{{Cite web |date=2025-10-03 |title=Update on a Security Incident Involving Third-Party Customer Service |url=https://discord.com/press-releases/update-on-security-incident-involving-third-party-customer-service |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20251006163040/https://discord.com/press-releases/update-on-security-incident-involving-third-party-customer-service |archive-date=2025-10-06 |access-date=2025-10-07 |website=Discord}}</ref> The number of ID images accessed was approximately 70,000, and the third-party in question was later named as 5CA.<ref name=":2" /> The hackers involved in the breach have revealed that the data was accessed via Zendesk.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Hunt |first=Troy |date=2025-10-04 |title=X |url=https://x.com/troyhunt/status/1974558088847102289}}</ref>

===Announcement of Age Verification Coming in March (Feb. 2026)===
In February 2026, Discord issued a press release announcing "enhanced teen safety features rolling out globally", which begins with a "rollout to new and existing users in early March", that may require users "to engage in an age-verification process to change certain settings or access sensitive content".<ref>{{Cite web |date=2026-02-09 |title=Discord Launches Teen-by-Default Settings Globally |url=https://discord.com/press-releases/discord-launches-teen-by-default-settings-globally |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20260209142047/https://discord.com/press-releases/discord-launches-teen-by-default-settings-globally |archive-date=2026-02-09 |access-date=2026-02-09 |website=Discord}}</ref>

On February 9, 2026, a [https://www.change.org/p/prevent-discord-from-implementing-id-verification Change.org petition] was created to prevent Discord from implementing the age verification globally.

===Discord's Connections to Palantir===
Discord in the UK utilizes [[Persona]] as a third-party, specialized vendor for age verification, requiring users to submit facial scans or ID to access restricted content.

A since redacted statement on the support.discord.com web-page under the "How to Complete Age Assurance on Discord" article stated:
{{Quote|"Important: If you're located in the UK, you may be part of an experiment where your information will be processed by an age-assurance vendor, Persona. The Information you submit will be temporarily stored for up to 7 days, then deleted. For ID document verification, all details are blurred except your photo and date of birth, so only what's truly needed for age verification is used".}}
[[File:Discord Article Changes.png|alt=This image shows the Screenshorts of the changes support article on Discord's support page|thumb|Changes between the 15th of February compared to the 19th of February 2026]]
After significant backlash from the online community, Discord has changed their statement under the article (As of February 19th, 2026): {{Quote|"Note: Some users in regions outside the UK and Australia may see age-assurance prompts when accessing certain features or settings as part of ongoing experiments."}}

Discord does not further clarify what the "experiments" entail.

Furthermore, the more detailed help-center article does not contain any mentions of the vendor Persona.

Persona is an identity verification tool producer, that has received $200 million dollars from the founders fund, a venture capital group headed by Peter Thiel.

Peter Thiel is also the co-founder of Palantir Technologies Inc, a global surveillance company.

===Inactive account deletions===
Discord has a [[Inactive account deletion|deletion policy on inactive accounts]], in which accounts that are not used for 2 years or more may be scheduled for deletion. Before the deletion of an inactive account, users may receive an email or text message warning that their account is scheduled for deletion. Such policies could adversely affect those who had good reasons to become inactive for a long time, such as hospitalization, prison incarceration, and being in totalitarian countries that have prolonged internet shutdowns. <ref>https://support.discord.com/hc/en-us/articles/5106714856215-Inactive-Account-Deletion ([http://web.archive.org/web/20260210025748/https://support.discord.com/hc/en-us/articles/5106714856215-Inactive-Account-Deletion Archived])</ref>

===Vague moderation===
{{Main|Discord's irresponsible moderation}}
Reported often by users on the BBB<ref name=":0" />, Trustpilot <ref name=":1" />, and a dedicated subreddit<ref>{{Cite web |title=/r/BannedFromDiscord |url=https://old.reddit.com/r/BannedFromDiscord/ |archive-url=http://web.archive.org/web/20251114160632/https://old.reddit.com/r/BannedFromDiscord/ |archive-date=14 Nov 2025}}</ref>, users have complained that Discord's moderation is vague. One such user reported that their account was banned after being compromised on the BBB, with an automated system handling the entire process, replying only with templates, and with no human involvement<ref>{{Cite web |last=Mir |first=Zain |date=Jul 23, 2025 |title=BBB Complaint |url=https://www.bbb.org/us/ca/san-francisco/profile/computer-software/discord-inc-1116-918699/complaints?page=2#1116_918699_23643523 |access-date=Aug 1, 2025 |website=Better Business Bureau |url-status=live |archive-url=http://web.archive.org/web/20260210184246/https://www.bbb.org/us/ca/san-francisco/profile/computer-software/discord-inc-1116-918699 |archive-date=10 Feb 2026}}</ref> with an automated system handling the entire process, replying only with templates, with no human involved in the appeal process.

==Solution to delete an account without agreeing to the updated ToS==

*Visit [https://support.discord.com/hc/en-us/articles/212500837-How-to-Delete-your-Discord-Account How to delete Discord account] and scroll to "Having Trouble Deleting Your Discord Account?" Find the link titled "Reach out to our support team". Direct link subject to user instance - http://dis.gd/support

*Fill out the "Submit a request" form. (A web search for "Submit a request Discord" may help users find the form. Be sure to answer the question "What can we help you with?" with "Help and Support" from the drop-down.) '''Please fill out the form using the same email address associated with your Discord account, as this process may need to be restarted if it is not.''' In the form, under "Type of question," there is an option for "Account deletion request". Proceed to fill out and submit the form with any other relevant information. An email will then be sent with further instructions, including how to proceed with account deletion, which involves responding to the email with "I confirm that I would like to delete the account associated with [user email]." '''The response must be received from the same email as the one associated with the Discord account.'''

==Solution to disable forced updates on Linux==
If you're running a .deb installation of Discord, you can disable forced updates by adding "SKIP_HOST_UPDATE": true to ~/.config/discord/settings.json.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Pardomuan |first=Patar Isac |date=2025-04-26 |title=How I Bypassed Discord’s Forced Update on Linux |url=https://medium.com/@patarisac/how-i-bypassed-discords-forced-update-on-linux-2bbc39b5949c |url-status=live |access-date=2026-02-20 |website=Medium |archive-url=http://web.archive.org/web/20251004041109/https://medium.com/@patarisac/how-i-bypassed-discords-forced-update-on-linux-2bbc39b5949c |archive-date=4 Oct 2025}}</ref>[[File:Discord Vague Infringement example.png|thumb|An example of how Discord handles its moderation from a user's perspective.]]

==References==
{{Reflist}}

[[Category:Discord]]
[[Category:Forced arbitration]]

User:CopyeditorHF

2026-02-24T15:06:55Z

CopyeditorHF: Added info to my user page.

Not a tech person, but I have lots of writing and editing experience. I'm here to make things sound better, i.e., clear and professional wording and convincing, salient argumentation.

Screenshot blocking

2026-02-24T14:59:21Z

CopyeditorHF: Deleted unclear or irrelevant argumentation (i.e., opinion-based); minor punctuation corrections, minor wording improvements, e.g. contractions should not be used in formal writing unless it is a quote: (don't --> do not)

{{ToneWarning}}{{Incomplete|Issue 1=Makes specific claims without citations}}
'''Screenshot blocking''' prevents the owner of a computing device from capturing screenshots and screen recordings. Some operating systems such as Android OS and iOS let app makers block the device owners from capturing screenshots and screen recordings of certain content. This may be done to protect privacy of the consumer, such as blocking screenshots of financial apps, or to protect against copyright infringement, such as Netflix blocking screenshots of the app<ref>{{Cite web |last=Sharma |first=Vishal |date=2026-01-14 |title=Netflix DRM: How & Why of Encrypted Video Security (2025)? |url=https://www.vdocipher.com/blog/2022/05/netflix-drm/ |access-date=2026-02-21 |website=vdocipher |archive-url=http://web.archive.org/web/20251015170902/https://www.vdocipher.com/blog/2022/05/netflix-drm/ |archive-date=15 Oct 2025}}</ref>. However, some instances of screenshot blocking may be seen as excessive and unnecessary in some cases, thus violating ownership of consumers by unreasonably limiting what they are allowed to do with their devices.

==How it works==
Blocking screenshots is typically an in-app technology, not something that automatically applies across all apps or devices. Here's how it works, depending on the platform:

On Android, apps can block screenshots using a flag called: WindowManager.LayoutParams.FLAG_SECURE{{Citation needed}}. When this flag is set on an activity, it prevents the content from being captured in screenshots, screen recordings, and even in the app switcher (recent apps view){{Citation needed}}. This is often used by apps like, banking apps, streaming services (e.g., Netflix), and secure messaging apps.

On iOS, iOS does not give developers an official flag like FLAG_SECURE, but they use workarounds, like displaying sensitive content in a UIView with custom rendering, then hiding or blurring it when the app detects screenshot events or apps going into background or app switcher{{Citation needed}}.

On desktop systems, blocking screenshots is more difficult because users have full control over the operating system, there is no built-in flag to prevent screenshots. Third-party tools or system-level protections are needed. Although, enterprise apps may block screenshots using digital Rights Management (DRM), virtual Desktop Infrastructure (VDI), or overlay detection / screen capture prevention libraries{{Citation needed}}.

==Why it happens==
Companies tend to block screenshots for the following reasons:

'''Protecting sensitive information'''

Apps that handle financial data (banks, payment apps) or confidential documents may block screenshots to reduce the risk of accidental data leaks. Screenshots could be captured and shared without consent, which could expose personal information like account numbers or passwords.

'''Content protection and licensing'''

Media apps (streaming services, e-books, and some news apps) sometimes block screenshots or recordings to prevent piracy or unauthorized redistribution of copyrighted content. Examples include Netflix and Spotify. However, there are legitimate uses such as quotations, which falls under fair use.

'''Privacy of other users'''

Messaging apps may prevent screenshots in certain contexts to protect the privacy of the other party. One such example are "disappearing messages" in WhatsApp.

'''Regulatory or contractual requirements'''

In some industries, companies must comply with legal rules around data protection or digital content licensing, which may include preventing local copies from being made.

==Why it is a problem==

===Impedes ownership===
On desktop operating systems like Windows and Linux, users have always been able to take screenshots or recordings of whatever is on their screen, without programs being able to block it. By contrast, many mobile apps restrict or disable this feature. This raises concerns because it limits a device owner’s ability to fully use their own device. Since a smartphone is personal property, users should retain control over its features, including the ability to capture their own screen rather than having that option dictated by app developers.

===Overuse===
Some apps implement screenshot blocking in situations where it is unnecessary. For example, since 2018, Chrome has blocked screenshots while in incognito mode. It is unclear what this restriction is meant to protect against, given that incognito browsing already functions by not saving history or cookies.
There are also many legitimate reasons to take a screenshot in incognito mode. Developers may need to capture how a website looks to first-time visitors, or users might want to save information temporarily without adding it to their browsing history. In these cases, blocking screenshots serves no meaningful security purpose and only prevents the device owner from using their phone’s features as intended.

==Incidents==

===ALDI TALK===
Earlier in 2025, the German cellular provider ALDI TALK blocked screenshots throughout its entire app.{{CitationNeeded}} The app displays information such as how much high-speed data a subscriber has remaining. Blocking screenshots of such basic information seems unnecessary, and applying the restriction across the entire app because some “private” content might appear in certain sections is excessive.

===Whatsapp===
The developers of [[WhatsApp]] have threatened with blocking screenshots inside chats with "advanced chat privacy" enabled:

<blockquote>
The company has stated that this is the first iteration of the feature, with plans to introduce even more robust protections in future updates, potentially including measures to block screenshots<ref>[https://archive.today/2025.07.07-200053/https://cybersecuritynews.com/whatsapp-advanced-chat-privacy-feature/ WhatsApp’s New Advanced Chat Privacy Feature to Protect Sensitive Conversations]</ref>.
</blockquote>[[WhatsApp]] blocked screenshots of profile pictures in 2024, excusing it with "protecting privacy".<ref>[https://archive.today/2024.12.22-151106/https://faq.whatsapp.com/1799783917198636 About profile photo screenshot blocking | WhatsApp Help Center]</ref> The reason this is dubious is that '''everyone knows putting private stuff in a visible spot on the Internet is a bad idea to begin with.''' This includes profile pictures.

==It's a local file==
When you take a screenshot, the screenshot is stored locally inside the encrypted internal storage of your smartphone, protected with your lockscreen credentials. It is not going to be sent to anyone unless you manually chose to do it. As a local file, it remains fully under your control.

Anyone determined enough can still photograph the screen from an external device. The only difference is that it is in a lower quality, but for alphanumerical stuff like banking details and text-based messages, that doesn't matter.

==External displays==
The "SECURE" flag on Android is responsible for screenshot blocking and screen recording blocking. However, it has another purpose: It prevents content from appearing on external displays such as HDMI and Miracast (over-the-air screen mirroring).

Screen contents can only appear on an external screens if the smartphone owner has chosen to connect an external screen. If the owner does private stuff, they should disconnect the external screen anyway.

Ways to solve this would be to let the user chose which apps can appear on external displays, or let the user decide whether they want to hide content flagged by the app developers as "SECURE".

The "SECURE" flag is not just used to hide "sensitive" content, but also by streaming service providers to prevent screenshots and screen recordings, even though there are legitimate purposes for it (fair use). As a side effect, you can not connect your phone to a TV or monitor to watch on a big screen, so you have to hope the TV has native support for your streaming provider.

In any case, the device owner must have the final say.

==Third-party screen recorders==
Another reason cited for screenshot/screen recorder blocking is the narrow possibility that third-party screen recorder apps contain spyware.

Third-party apps can only capture the screen if the phone owner allows them. It would make sense to let the user decide which third-party apps can capture content marked as "SECURE". But the pre-installed screenshot and screen recording tool should never be blocked because they don't contain spyware (unless the phone maker chose to put it in, in which case you would have a much greater problem). If users wish to guarantee that their screen recorder software does not contain spyware, they can utilise open source screen recorders.

In any case, there is no reason to block the '''built-in''' screenshot and screen recording tools just because misbehaving third-party apps may be out there.

==Screenshot detection==
Android 14 has added a "screenshot event" and Android 15 a "screen recording event." This makes allows apps to register when the owner takes a screenshot or screen recording. An online poll shows most users are opposed to screenshot detection.<ref>[https://www.androidauthority.com/android-14-screenshot-detection-api-3389527/ Android 14's screenshot detection system is getting adopted by more apps] ([http://web.archive.org/web/20251212004411/https://www.androidauthority.com/android-14-screenshot-detection-api-3389527/ Archived])</ref>

==References==
<references />

[[Category:Common terms]]

Screenshot blocking

2026-02-24T14:49:21Z

CopyeditorHF: Added comment challenging the "incident" of screenshots being blocked in the ALDI TALK app. Requesting iOS users test to see if screenshots are blocked on their operating system.

{{ToneWarning}}{{Incomplete|Issue 1=Makes specific claims without citations}}
'''Screenshot blocking''' prevents the owner of a computing device from capturing screenshots and screen recordings. Some operating systems such as Android OS and iOS let app makers block the device owners from capturing screenshots and screen recordings of certain content. This may be done to protect privacy of the consumer, such as blocking screenshots of financial apps, or to protect against copyright infringement, such as Netflix blocking screenshots of the app<ref>{{Cite web |last=Sharma |first=Vishal |date=2026-01-14 |title=Netflix DRM: How & Why of Encrypted Video Security (2025)? |url=https://www.vdocipher.com/blog/2022/05/netflix-drm/ |access-date=2026-02-21 |website=vdocipher |archive-url=http://web.archive.org/web/20251015170902/https://www.vdocipher.com/blog/2022/05/netflix-drm/ |archive-date=15 Oct 2025}}</ref>. However, some instances of screenshot blocking may be seen as excessive and unnecessary in some cases, thus violating ownership of consumers in what they are allowed to do with their devices.

==How it works==
Blocking screenshots is typically an in-app technology, not something that automatically applies across all apps or devices. Here's how it works, depending on the platform:

On Android, apps can block screenshots using a flag called: WindowManager.LayoutParams.FLAG_SECURE{{Citation needed}}. When this flag is set on an activity, it prevents the content from being captured in screenshots, screen recordings, and even in the app switcher (recent apps view){{Citation needed}}. This is often used by apps like, banking apps, streaming services (e.g., Netflix), and secure messaging apps.

On iOS:, iOS doesn’t give developers an official flag like FLAG_SECURE, but they use workarounds, like displaying sensitive content in a UIView with custom rendering, then hiding or blurring it when the app detects screenshot events or apps going into background or app switcher{{Citation needed}}.

On desktop systems, blocking screenshots is much harder, because users have full control over the OS, there’s no built-in flag to prevent screenshotting, third-party tools or system-level protections are needed. Although, enterprise apps may block screenshots using, digital Rights Management (DRM), virtual Desktop Infrastructure (VDI), or overlay detection / screen capture prevention libraries{{Citation needed}}.

==Why it happens==
Companies tend to block screenshots for the following reasons:

'''Protecting sensitive information'''

Apps that handle financial data (banks, payment apps) or confidential documents may block screenshots to reduce the risk of accidental data leaks. Screenshots could be captured and shared without consent, which could expose personal information like account numbers or passwords.

'''Content protection and licensing'''

Media apps (streaming services, e-books, and some news apps) sometimes block screenshots or recordings to prevent piracy or unauthorized redistribution of copyrighted content. Examples include Netflix and Spotify. However, there are legitimate uses such as quotations, which falls under fair use.

'''Privacy of other users'''

Messaging apps may prevent screenshots in certain contexts to protect the privacy of the other party. One such example are "disappearing messages" in WhatsApp. However, if someone doesn't trust someone to keep something secret, one shouldn't send it in the first place, just as one would not tell them in real life.

'''Regulatory or contractual requirements'''

In some industries, companies must comply with legal rules around data protection or digital content licensing, which may include preventing local copies from being made.

==Why it is a problem==

===Impedes ownership===
On desktop operating systems like Windows and Linux, users have always been able to take screenshots or recordings of whatever is on their screen, without programs being able to block it. By contrast, many mobile apps restrict or disable this feature. This raises concerns because it limits a device owner’s ability to fully use their own phone. Since a smartphone is personal property, users should retain control over its features, including the ability to capture their own screen, rather than having that choice dictated by app developers.

===Overuse===
Some apps implement screenshot blocking in situations where it is unnecessary. For example, since 2018, Chrome has blocked screenshots while in incognito mode. It is unclear what this restriction is meant to protect against, given that incognito browsing already functions by not saving history or cookies.
There are also many legitimate reasons to take a screenshot in incognito mode. Developers may need to capture how a website looks to first-time visitors, or users might want to save information temporarily without adding it to their browsing history. In these cases, blocking screenshots serves no meaningful security purpose and only prevents the device owner from using their phone’s features as intended.

==Incidents==

===ALDI TALK===
Earlier in 2025, the German cellular provider ALDI TALK blocked screenshots throughout its entire app.{{CitationNeeded}} The app displays information such as how much high-speed data a subscriber has remaining. Blocking screenshots of such basic information seems unnecessary, and applying the restriction across the entire app because some “private” content might appear in certain sections is excessive.

===Whatsapp===
The developers of [[WhatsApp]] have threatened with blocking screenshots inside chats with "advanced chat privacy" enabled:

<blockquote>
The company has stated that this is the first iteration of the feature, with plans to introduce even more robust protections in future updates, potentially including measures to block screenshots<ref>[https://archive.today/2025.07.07-200053/https://cybersecuritynews.com/whatsapp-advanced-chat-privacy-feature/ WhatsApp’s New Advanced Chat Privacy Feature to Protect Sensitive Conversations]</ref>.
</blockquote>[[WhatsApp]] blocked screenshots of profile pictures in 2024, excusing it with "protecting privacy".<ref>[https://archive.today/2024.12.22-151106/https://faq.whatsapp.com/1799783917198636 About profile photo screenshot blocking | WhatsApp Help Center]</ref> The reason this is dubious is that '''everyone knows putting private stuff in a visible spot on the Internet is a bad idea to begin with.''' This includes profile pictures.

==It's a local file==
When you take a screenshot, the screenshot is stored locally inside the encrypted internal storage of your smartphone, protected with your lockscreen credentials. It is not going to be sent to anyone unless you manually chose to do it. As a local file, it remains fully under your control.

Anyone determined enough can still photograph the screen from an external device. The only difference is that it is in a lower quality, but for alphanumerical stuff like banking details and text-based messages, that doesn't matter.

==External displays==
The "SECURE" flag on Android is responsible for screenshot blocking and screen recording blocking. However, it has another purpose: It prevents content from appearing on external displays such as HDMI and Miracast (over-the-air screen mirroring).

Screen contents can only appear on an external screens if the smartphone owner has chosen to connect an external screen. If the owner does private stuff, they should disconnect the external screen anyway.

Ways to solve this would be to let the user chose which apps can appear on external displays, or let the user decide whether they want to hide content flagged by the app developers as "SECURE".

The "SECURE" flag is not just used to hide "sensitive" content, but also by streaming service providers to prevent screenshots and screen recordings, even though there are legitimate purposes for it (fair use). As a side effect, you can not connect your phone to a TV or monitor to watch on a big screen, so you have to hope the TV has native support for your streaming provider.

In any case, the device owner must have the final say.

==Third-party screen recorders==
Another reason cited for screenshot/screen recorder blocking is the narrow possibility that third-party screen recorder apps contain spyware.

Third-party apps can only capture the screen if the phone owner allows them. It would make sense to let the user decide which third-party apps can capture content marked as "SECURE". But the pre-installed screenshot and screen recording tool should never be blocked because they don't contain spyware (unless the phone maker chose to put it in, in which case you would have a much greater problem). If users wish to guarantee that their screen recorder software does not contain spyware, they can utilise open source screen recorders.

In any case, there is no reason to block the '''built-in''' screenshot and screen recording tools just because misbehaving third-party apps may be out there.

==Screenshot detection==
Android 14 has added a "screenshot event" and Android 15 a "screen recording event". This makes it easy for apps to notice if the owner takes a screenshot or screen recording, and alter their behaviour accordingly. This takes even more control away from the device owner. An online poll shows most users are opposed to screenshot detection.<ref>[https://www.androidauthority.com/android-14-screenshot-detection-api-3389527/ Android 14's screenshot detection system is getting adopted by more apps] ([http://web.archive.org/web/20251212004411/https://www.androidauthority.com/android-14-screenshot-detection-api-3389527/ Archived])</ref>

==References==
<references />

[[Category:Common terms]]

Discord

2026-02-23T17:00:29Z

CopyeditorHF: Punctuation convention edits, clarification of unclear sentences, comment added incoherence of stance regarding child safety and age verification.

{{ToneWarning}}
{{CompanyCargo
|Description=American technology company that runs a platform for messaging and calling targeted towards gamers.
|Founded=2015
|Industry=Software, Social Media
|Logo=Discord.svg
|ParentCompany=
|Type=Private
|Website=https://discord.com
}}
'''Discord''' is a proprietary VoIP and instant-messaging platform developed by Discord Inc. (formerly Hammer & Chisel, Inc.), co-founded by Jason Citron and Stanislav Vishnevskiy.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Gonzalez |first=Guadalupe |date=3 May 2018 |title=There Are 2.6 Billion Online Gamers in the World. This Startup Just May Connect Them All |url=https://www.inc.com/guadalupe-gonzalez/30-under-30-2018-discord.html |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180503131556/https://www.inc.com/guadalupe-gonzalez/30-under-30-2018-discord.html |archive-date=3 May 2018 |access-date=13 Jul 2025 |website=Inc.}}</ref> Launched in 2015, the service has grown to over 150 million monthly active users as of 2025. While initially marketed towards PC gamers, Discord has expanded to multiple platforms, serving various communities and use cases, including education.<ref name="about-company">{{Cite web |date=15 Apr 2024 |title=About Discord <nowiki>|</nowiki> Our Mission and Values |url=https://discord.com/company/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250608013037/https://discord.com/company |archive-date=8 Jun 2025 |access-date=13 Jul 2025 |website=Discord}}</ref>

In April 2025, Humam Sakhnini (formerly King, Activision Blizzard) replaced Jason Citron as CEO.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Discord Appoints Humam Sakhnini as Chief Executive Officer |url=https://discord.com/press-releases/discord-appoints-new-ceo-humam-sakhnini |url-status=live |archive-url=http://web.archive.org/web/20260124072250/https://discord.com/press-releases/discord-appoints-new-ceo-humam-sakhnini |archive-date=24 Jan 2026}}</ref>

==Consumer Impact Summary==

===Privacy<ref name="terms-of-service3">[https://discord.com/terms/ "Discord's Terms of Service"]. April 15, 2024. ''Discord''. Retrieved January 16, 2025. ([https://web.archive.org/web/20260216033955/https://discord.com/terms/ Archived])</ref>===
Mentioned within the '''Discord ToS<ref name="terms-of-service3" />''' and '''Privacy Policy''':<ref name="privacy-policy3">[https://discord.com/privacy/ "Discord Privacy Policy"]. April 15, 2024. ([https://web.archive.org/web/20260216034021/https://discord.com/privacy/ Archived]) ''Discord''. Retrieved January 16, 2025.</ref><ref name="community-guidelines2">[https://discord.com/guidelines/ "Discord Community Guidelines"]. April 15, 2024. ''Discord''. Retrieved January 16, 2025. ([http://web.archive.org/web/20260216015550/https://discord.com/guidelines Archived])</ref>
*Collects a variety of user data, such as contact details; user generated messages and posts, including drafts; voice messages; payment information; server participation; device information, such as games being playing; log and event information related to use of Discord services as well as information from cookies and third party sources.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2025-08-29 |title=Privacy Policy: The information we collect |url=https://discord.com/privacy#3 |url-status=live |access-date=2026-02-20 |website=Discord |archive-url=http://web.archive.org/web/20260128220720/https://discord.com/privacy |archive-date=28 Jan 2026}}</ref>
*Claims broad rights to user-generated content.
*Deleted messages are stored for undefined periods.
*Retains personal information until deemed "no longer needed."
*Processes user content for "safety features and platform improvement."
*Shares data with related companies, vendors, and third-party service providers.
*Opt-out behavioral tracking across platform features for personalization.
*Maintains logs of IP addresses and device information for an undetermined amount of time, flags any user who has ever signed in with an EU IP address for inclusion within DSA transparency reports
*Sends a web request when any UI element is clicked and when typing
In 2019, Discord started requiring phone verification. The account will be locked until a phone number is added, regardless of account age or recent activity. The account will be automatically locked if the phone number is removed.<ref>[https://archive.today/2022.10.28-141642/https://wowana.me/blog/guess-im-done-with-discord.xht guess I'm done with Discord – wowana.me]</ref><ref>[https://archive.today/2025.08.31-190346/https://cadence.moe/blog/2020-06-06-why-you-shouldnt-trust-discord Why you shouldn't trust Discord - cadence's weblog (personal blog)]</ref>

===Freedom===
Mentioned within the '''Discord ToS<ref name="terms-of-service3" />''' and '''Privacy Policy''':<ref name="privacy-policy3" />
*Mandatory [[Forced arbitration|binding arbitration]] with [[class action|class-action]] waiver for U.S. users. (From 19 October 2018)
*Users grant a perpetual, transferable license to their content.
*Users must accept the broad terms of service, which allow for unilateral changes.
*Accounts can be terminated without prior notice at Discord's discretion.

*No option to opt out of core data collection while using the service.
*Content may be retained by Discord even after deletion by the user.
*Server owners have limited recourse if their servers are banned.
*Forced to use Discord's payment processing for all monetary transactions.

===Transparency===
Discord's terms of service are lengthy and complex. In October 2025, the base terms are 29 pages long, with a reading level of 14th grade (equivalent to two years of tertiary education) and an estimated reading time of 42 minutes.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Calculated using readabilitychecker.com based on current discord TOS. discord.com/terms |url=https://readabilitychecker.com/url |access-date=9 Oct 2025 |url-status=live |archive-url=http://web.archive.org/web/20260210185029/https://readabilitychecker.com/url |archive-date=10 Feb 2026}}</ref> The 2021 version of Discord's ToS would take an estimated 275+ hours to read.<ref>{{Cite web |title=EULA of despair |url=https://www.pilotlab.org/eulas-of-despair |access-date=9 Oct 2025 |website=Penn State University Pilot Lab |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20260216034102/https://www.pilotlab.org/eulas-of-despair |archive-date=16 Feb 2026}}</ref>

Mentioned within the '''Discord Privacy Policy'''<ref name="privacy-policy3" /> and '''Community Guidelines''':<ref name="community-guidelines2" />
*Unclear processes for handling law enforcement requests.
*Vague about specific data retention time frames.
*Limited transparency regarding content moderation decisions.<ref name=":0">{{Cite web |title=BBB - Discord, Inc. |url=https://www.bbb.org/us/ca/san-francisco/profile/computer-software/discord-inc-1116-918699 |access-date=Aug 2, 2025 |website=Better Business Bureau |url-status=live |archive-url=http://web.archive.org/web/20260210184246/https://www.bbb.org/us/ca/san-francisco/profile/computer-software/discord-inc-1116-918699 |archive-date=10 Feb 2026}}</ref><ref name=":1">{{Cite web |title=Trustpilot - Discord |url=https://www.trustpilot.com/review/discord.com |access-date=Aug 2, 2025 |website=Trustpilot |url-status=live |archive-url=http://web.archive.org/web/20251112025215/https://www.trustpilot.com/review/discord.com |archive-date=12 Nov 2025}}</ref>
**In some instances, the offending content is not displayed to the user, nor is any metadata, filenames, timestamps, or even the originating channel shown.
**No limits or restrictions on the age of content (e.g., users can be suspended due to something sent 1500 days ago)
*Server ban appeals process lacks transparency.<ref name=":0" /><ref name=":1" />
*Limited disclosure of recommendation algorithm factors.
*There is no clear disclosure of how the content is used for platform improvement.
==Incidents==
===Introduction of forced arbitration (Oct. 2018)===
In October 2018, [[forced arbitration]] was added to the [[Terms of Service|terms of service]]. Users could opt out by sending an 'opt-out notice' to arbitration-opt-out@discord.com within 90 days of the ToS going in effect or registering their first account.'''<ref name="terms-of-service3" />'''

===Child safety concerns (June 2023)===
An [[wikipedia:NBC News|NBC News]] investigation in June 2023 uncovered widespread child safety issues on Discord, revealing systemic problems with the platform's user protection measures.

Investigators identified 35 separate cases where adults were criminally charged with "kidnapping, grooming, or sexual assault" involving contacts initiated through Discord. Additionally, 165 criminal prosecutions involving the sharing of child sexual exploitation material (CSAM) on the platform were documented.<ref><templatestyles src="Module:Citation/CS1/styles.css"></templatestyles><cite id="CITEREFGoggin2023" class="citation web cs1">Goggin, Ben (21 Jun 2023). [https://www.nbcnews.com/tech/social-media/discord-child-safety-social-platform-challenges-rcna89769 "Child predators are using Discord, a popular app among teens, for sextortion and abductions"]. ''NBC News''. [https://web.archive.org/web/20230621152318/https://www.nbcnews.com/tech/social-media/discord-child-safety-social-platform-challenges-rcna89769 Archived] from the original on 21 Jun 2023. Retrieved 13 Jul 2025.</cite><span title="ctx_ver=Z39.88-2004&rft_val_fmt=info%3Aofi%2Ffmt%3Akev%3Amtx%3Ajournal&rft.genre=unknown&rft.jtitle=NBC+News&rft.atitle=Child+predators+are+using+Discord%2C+a+popular+app+among+teens%2C+for+sextortion+and+abductions&rft.date=2023-06-21&rft.aulast=Goggin&rft.aufirst=Ben&rft_id=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.nbcnews.com%2Ftech%2Fsocial-media%2Fdiscord-child-safety-social-platform-challenges-rcna89769&rfr_id=info%3Asid%2Fconsumerrights.wiki%3ADiscord" class="Z3988"></ref>

===FTC data collection investigation (Sept. 2024)===
In September 2024, the [[Federal Trade Commission]] (FTC) released a comprehensive report examining Discord's data collection practices as part of a broader investigation into the data collection practices of social media platforms.<ref><templatestyles src="Module:Citation/CS1/styles.css"></templatestyles><cite class="citation web cs1">[https://www.ftc.gov/system/files/ftc_gov/pdf/Social-Media-6b-Report-9-11-2024.pdf "A Look Behind the Screens: Examining the Data Practices of Social Media and Video Streaming Services"] (PDF). ''Federal Trade Commission''. 11 Sep 2024. [https://web.archive.org/web/20240919133855/https://www.ftc.gov/system/files/ftc_gov/pdf/Social-Media-6b-Report-9-11-2024.pdf Archived] (PDF) from the original on 19 Sep 2024. Retrieved 13 Jul 2025.</cite><span title="ctx_ver=Z39.88-2004&rft_val_fmt=info%3Aofi%2Ffmt%3Akev%3Amtx%3Ajournal&rft.genre=unknown&rft.jtitle=Federal+Trade+Commission&rft.atitle=A+Look+Behind+the+Screens%3A+Examining+the+Data+Practices+of+Social+Media+and+Video+Streaming+Services&rft.date=2024-09-11&rft_id=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.ftc.gov%2Fsystem%2Ffiles%2Fftc_gov%2Fpdf%2FSocial-Media-6b-Report-9-11-2024.pdf&rfr_id=info%3Asid%2Fconsumerrights.wiki%3ADiscord" class="Z3988"></ref>

The investigation revealed Discord collects extensive user data, including:
*Message content and metadata
*Voice-chat participation
*Server membership and activity
*Device and location information
Particular concern was raised about:
*[https://www.ecfr.gov/current/title-16/chapter-I/subchapter-C/part-312 Collection of data from users under 13]
*Handling of minors' user information
*Inadequate age-verification systems
The FTC identified multiple areas where Discord's practices put users at risk:
*Identity theft exposure
*Potential stalking risks
*Discrimination concerns
*Mental health and emotional impact

The FTC concluded that Discord's data practices posed unacceptable risks to users, particularly minors, and recommended significant reforms to the platform's privacy protection measures.<ref><templatestyles src="Module:Citation/CS1/styles.css"></templatestyles><cite id="CITEREFTolentino2024" class="citation web cs1">Tolentino, Daysia (19 Sep 2024). [https://www.nbcnews.com/tech/security/social-media-companies-engaged-vast-surveillance-ftc-finds-calling-sta-rcna171814 "Social media companies engaged in 'vast surveillance,' FTC finds, calling status quo 'unacceptable'"]. ''NBC News''. [https://web.archive.org/web/20240919171049/https://www.nbcnews.com/tech/security/social-media-companies-engaged-vast-surveillance-ftc-finds-calling-sta-rcna171814 Archived] from the original on 19 Sep 2024. Retrieved 13 Jul 2025.</cite><span title="ctx_ver=Z39.88-2004&rft_val_fmt=info%3Aofi%2Ffmt%3Akev%3Amtx%3Ajournal&rft.genre=unknown&rft.jtitle=NBC+News&rft.atitle=Social+media+companies+engaged+in+%27vast+surveillance%2C%27+FTC+finds%2C+calling+status+quo+%27unacceptable%27&rft.date=2024-09-19&rft.aulast=Tolentino&rft.aufirst=Daysia&rft_id=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.nbcnews.com%2Ftech%2Fsecurity%2Fsocial-media-companies-engaged-vast-surveillance-ftc-finds-calling-sta-rcna171814&rfr_id=info%3Asid%2Fconsumerrights.wiki%3ADiscord" class="Z3988"></ref>

===Reinforcement of forced arbitration (Sept. 2025)===
Announced August 29th, 2025, and put into effect September 29th, 2025, Discord updated and re-iterated their [[forced arbitration]] clause but gave users another option to opt-out of forced arbitration until October 29th, 2025, for existing accounts, or 30 days after initial agreement for new accounts.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2025-09-29 |title=Discord's Terms of Service |url=https://discord.com/terms#16 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20251007023150/https://discord.com/terms#16 |archive-date=2025-10-07 |access-date=2025-10-07 |website=Discord.com}}</ref> Users are automatically opted into the forced arbitration clause unless they take specific action to opt out of it within 30 days. Instead, if users chose to delete their accounts, the platform required them to accept the terms in order to access their account, from which they could then delete it, making acceptance of the new terms mandatory.
[[File:Discord Forced Arbitration 1.png|alt=An example of Discord forcing users to agree to arbitration if they want to continue using the application.|thumb|(2025-09-29) An example of Discord forcing users to agree to arbitration if they want to continue using the application. The terms of service at the time of this screenshot includes forced arbitration and disallows users from filing a class-action lawsuit.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Discord |date=2025-09-29 |title=Terms of Service {{!}} Discord |url=https://discord.com/terms |url-status=live |access-date=2025-09-29 |website=Discord}} ([http://web.archive.org/web/20260222174800/https://discord.com/terms Archived])</ref>]]

===Third-Party Customer Service Data Breach (Oct. 2025)===
{{Main|Discord / 5CA Data Breach}}
In October 2025, Discord issued a press release announcing a "Security Incident Involving Third-Party Customer Service [5CA]", in which "the unauthorized party [...] gained access to a small number of government‑ID images (e.g., driver’s license, passport) from users who had appealed an age determination," as well as other personal data provided to support.<ref name=":2">{{Cite web |date=2025-10-03 |title=Update on a Security Incident Involving Third-Party Customer Service |url=https://discord.com/press-releases/update-on-security-incident-involving-third-party-customer-service |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20251006163040/https://discord.com/press-releases/update-on-security-incident-involving-third-party-customer-service |archive-date=2025-10-06 |access-date=2025-10-07 |website=Discord}}</ref> The number of ID images accessed was approximately 70,000, and the third-party in question was later named as 5CA.<ref name=":2" /> The hackers involved in the breach have revealed that the data was accessed via Zendesk.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Hunt |first=Troy |date=2025-10-04 |title=X |url=https://x.com/troyhunt/status/1974558088847102289}}</ref>

===Announcement of Age Verification Coming in March (Feb. 2026)===
In February 2026, Discord issued a press release announcing "enhanced teen safety features rolling out globally," which begins with a "rollout to new and existing users in early March," that may require users "to engage in an age-verification process to change certain settings or access sensitive content."<ref>{{Cite web |date=2026-02-09 |title=Discord Launches Teen-by-Default Settings Globally |url=https://discord.com/press-releases/discord-launches-teen-by-default-settings-globally |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20260209142047/https://discord.com/press-releases/discord-launches-teen-by-default-settings-globally |archive-date=2026-02-09 |access-date=2026-02-09 |website=Discord}}</ref>

On February 9, 2026, a [https://www.change.org/p/prevent-discord-from-implementing-id-verification Change.org petition] was created to prevent Discord from implementing the age verification globally.

===Discord's Connections to Palantir===
Discord in the UK utilizes Persona as a third-party, specialized vendor for age verification, requiring users to submit facial scans or ID to access restricted content.

A since redacted statement on the support.discord.com web-page under the "How to Complete Age Assurance on Discord" article stated:
{{Quote|"Important: If you're located in the UK, you may be part of an experiment where your information will be processed by an age-assurance vendor, Persona. The Information you submit will be temporarily stored for up to 7 days, then deleted. For ID document verification, all details are blurred except your photo and date of birth, so only what's truly needed for age verification is used".}}
[[File:Discord Article Changes.png|alt=This image shows the Screenshorts of the changes support article on Discord's support page|thumb|Changes between the 15th of February compared to the 19th of February 2026]]
After significant backlash from the online community, Discord has changed their statment under the article (As of February 19th, 2026): {{Quote|"Note: Some users in regions outside the UK and Australia may see age-assurance prompts when accessing certain features or settings as part of ongoing experiments."}}

Discord does not further clarify what the "experiments" entail.

Furthermore; the more detailed help-center article does not contain any mentions of the vendor Persona.

Persona is an identity verification tool producer, that has recieved $200 million dollars from the founders fund, a venture capital group that Peter Thiel is in charge of.

Peter Thiel is also the co-founder of Palantir Technologies Inc, a global surveillance company.

===Inactive account deletions===
Discord has a [[Inactive account deletion|deletion policy on inactive accounts]], in which accounts that are not used for 2 years or more may be scheduled for deletion. Before the deletion of an inactive account, users may receive an email or text message warning that their account is scheduled for deletion. Such policies could adversely affect those who had good reasons to become inactive for a long time, such as hospitalization, prison incarceration, and being in totalitarian countries that have prolonged internet shutdowns. <ref>https://support.discord.com/hc/en-us/articles/5106714856215-Inactive-Account-Deletion ([http://web.archive.org/web/20260210025748/https://support.discord.com/hc/en-us/articles/5106714856215-Inactive-Account-Deletion Archived])</ref>

===Vague moderation===
{{Main|Discord's irresponsible moderation}}
Reported often by users on the BBB<ref name=":0" />, Trustpilot <ref name=":1" />, and a dedicated subreddit<ref>{{Cite web |title=/r/BannedFromDiscord |url=https://old.reddit.com/r/BannedFromDiscord/ |archive-url=http://web.archive.org/web/20251114160632/https://old.reddit.com/r/BannedFromDiscord/ |archive-date=14 Nov 2025}}</ref>, users have complained that Discord's moderation is vague. One such user reported that their account was banned after being compromised on the BBB, with an automated system handling the entire process, replying only with templates, and with no human involvement<ref>{{Cite web |last=Mir |first=Zain |date=Jul 23, 2025 |title=BBB Complaint |url=https://www.bbb.org/us/ca/san-francisco/profile/computer-software/discord-inc-1116-918699/complaints?page=2#1116_918699_23643523 |access-date=Aug 1, 2025 |website=Better Business Bureau |url-status=live |archive-url=http://web.archive.org/web/20260210184246/https://www.bbb.org/us/ca/san-francisco/profile/computer-software/discord-inc-1116-918699 |archive-date=10 Feb 2026}}</ref> with an automated system handling the entire process, replying only with templates, with no human involved in the appeal process.

==Solution to delete an account without agreeing to the updated ToS==

*Visit [https://support.discord.com/hc/en-us/articles/212500837-How-to-Delete-your-Discord-Account How to delete Discord account] and scroll to "Having Trouble Deleting Your Discord Account?" Find the link titled "Reach out to our support team". Direct link subject to user instance - http://dis.gd/support

*Fill out the "Submit a request" form. (A web search for "Submit a request Discord" may help users find the form. Be sure to answer the question "What can we help you with?" with "Help and Support" from the drop-down.) '''Please fill out the form using the same email address associated with your Discord account, as this process may need to be restarted if it is not.''' In the form, under "Type of question," there is an option for "Account deletion request". Proceed to fill out and submit the form with any other relevant information. An email will then be sent with further instructions, including how to proceed with account deletion, which involves responding to the email with "I confirm that I would like to delete the account associated with [user email]." '''The response must be received from the same email as the one associated with the Discord account.'''

==Solution to disable forced updates on Linux==
If you're running a .deb installation of Discord, you can disable forced updates by adding "SKIP_HOST_UPDATE": true to ~/.config/discord/settings.json.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Pardomuan |first=Patar Isac |date=2025-04-26 |title=How I Bypassed Discord’s Forced Update on Linux |url=https://medium.com/@patarisac/how-i-bypassed-discords-forced-update-on-linux-2bbc39b5949c |url-status=live |access-date=2026-02-20 |website=Medium |archive-url=http://web.archive.org/web/20251004041109/https://medium.com/@patarisac/how-i-bypassed-discords-forced-update-on-linux-2bbc39b5949c |archive-date=4 Oct 2025}}</ref>[[File:Discord Vague Infringement example.png|thumb|An example of how Discord handles its moderation from a user's perspective.]]

==References==
{{Reflist}}

[[Category:Discord]]
[[Category:Forced arbitration]]

Apple App Store

2026-02-22T14:59:19Z

CopyeditorHF: Minor grammar/style edits; adding more explicit argumentation to "Facebook online events."

{{ToneWarning}}
{{ProductCargo
|ArticleType=Service
|Category=Software marketplace
|Company=Apple
|Description=Software marketplace for official Apple products
|InProduction=Yes
|Logo=App Store (iOS).svg
|ProductLine=
|ReleaseYear=2008
|Website=https://www.apple.com/app-store/
}}

'''[[Apple]]''' uses a range of technical measures to maintain control over the App Store ecosystem. While Apple cites security and user-friendliness as the reasoning behind these measures, they often create roadblocks for users as well as app developers. Some of the methods Apple uses to control its ecosystem hinders lawmakers' ability to advocate for the rights of consumers and businesses within Apple's ecosystem and prevents apps from being as useful and free as their customers expect.

Although there are supported iOS application installation source alternatives such as [https://altstore.io/ Altstore], they are not commonly used or known, which gives Apple a practical monopoly over iOS users and iOS app developers.

Apple has made claims that they are unaware about the profitability of the App Store<ref>{{Cite web |last=Lovejoy |first=Ben |date=17 Apr 2024 |title=Schiller doesn’t know whether the App Store is profitable; there are no minutes of meetings |url=https://9to5mac.com/2024/04/17/app-store-is-profitable-apple-notes/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://archive.ph/AinvZ |archive-date=7 Jan 2026 |access-date=16 Mar 2025 |website=[[9to5Mac]]}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Lovejoy |first=Ben |date=17 Jan 2025 |title=Apple denies App Store profit margin is 75% – claims to have no clue |url=https://9to5mac.com/2025/01/17/apple-denies-app-store-profit-margin-is-75-claims-to-have-no-clue/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://archive.ph/Df7hl |archive-date=7 Jan 2026 |access-date=16 Mar 2025 |website=[[9t05Mac]]}}</ref> but takes fees of up to 30% on digital product sales and subscriptions,<ref>{{Cite web |last=Mehta |first=Tushar |date=2025-05-06 |title=Apple cuts App Store fees, but experts urge caution against new U.S. pricing guidelines |url=https://www.digitaltrends.com/phones/what-experts-say-about-apple-app-store-pricing-changes/ |access-date=2026-02-20 |website=digitaltrends}}</ref> ranging from game currency to supporting content creators<ref name="patreon">{{Cite web |last=Roth |first=Emma |date=12 Aug 2024 |title=Patreon: adding Apple’s 30 percent tax is the price of staying in the App Store |url=https://www.theverge.com/2024/8/12/24218629/patreon-membership-ios-30-percent-apple-tax |url-status=live |archive-url=https://archive.ph/Vi9cV |archive-date=13 Nov 2024 |access-date=16 Mar 2025 |website=[[The Verge]]}}</ref> to booking a Zoom call with a local business.<ref name="facebook">{{Cite web |last=Paul |first=Katie |last2=Nellis |first2=Stephen |date=28 Aug 2020 |title=Exclusive: Facebook says Apple rejected its attempt to tell users about App Store fees |url=https://www.reuters.com/article/us-facebook-apple-exclusive/exclusive-facebook-says-apple-rejected-its-attempt-to-tell-users-about-app-store-fees-idUSKBN25O042/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://archive.ph/9CJDN |archive-date=7 Jan 2026 |access-date=16 Mar 2025 |website=[[Reuters]]}}</ref> Some argue that these fees hinder iOS app developers from innovating because this money cannot be used to further improve their applications.{{Citation needed}} There are groups in support of developers who are experiencing difficulties in continuing development due to Apple (and [[Google]]'s) fees of between 15% and 30% of all revenue. These groups deny the notion that Apple and Google require the money generated by the app more than the developer.{{Citation needed}} These fees also push app developers to increase prices to maximize profits, which increases the prices for end users.

Because of this, several governments including South Korea,<ref>{{Cite web |date=8 Mar 2022 |title=South Korea approves rules on app store law targeting Apple, Google |url=https://www.reuters.com/technology/skorea-approves-rules-app-store-law-targeting-apple-google-2022-03-08/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://archive.ph/q1VQW |archive-date=11 Jan 2023 |access-date=16 Mar 2025 |website=[[Reuters]]}}</ref> Japan,<ref>{{Cite web |last=Sharwood |first=Simon |date=13 Jun 2024 |title=Japan forces Apple and Google to allow third-party app stores and payments |url=https://www.theregister.com/2024/06/13/japan_smartphone_software_law/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://archive.ph/Jj9BI |archive-date=13 Jun 2024 |access-date=16 Mar 2025 |website=[[The Register]]}}</ref> the European Union,<ref>[[wikipedia:Digital Markets Act|Digital Markets Act]]</ref> the United Kingdom,<ref>{{Cite web |last=Competition and Markets Authority |date=4 Mar 2021 |title=Investigation into Apple AppStore |url=https://www.gov.uk/cma-cases/investigation-into-apple-appstore |url-status=live |archive-url=https://archive.ph/uZ7A5 |archive-date=7 Jan 2026 |access-date=16 Mar 2025 |website=[[gov.uk]]}}</ref> Australia,<ref>{{Cite web |date=28 Apr 2021 |title=Dominance of Apple and Google's app stores impacting competition and consumers |url=https://www.accc.gov.au/media-release/dominance-of-apple-and-googles-app-stores-impacting-competition-and-consumers |url-status=live |archive-url=https://archive.ph/Bw3gv |archive-date=7 Jan 2026 |access-date=16 Mar 2025 |website=[[ACCC]]}}</ref> as well as the US and a handful of US States<ref>[[wikipedia:Open App Markets Act|Open App Markets Act]]</ref><ref>{{Cite web |date=20 Nov 2024 |title=S.5364 - App Store Accountability Act |url=https://www.congress.gov/bill/118th-congress/senate-bill/5364/text/is |url-status=live |archive-url=https://archive.ph/7yPxE |archive-date=7 Jan 2026 |access-date=16 Mar 2025 |website=[[congress.gov]]}}</ref><ref name="doj">{{Cite web |last=Balsamo |first=Mike |last2=Liedtke |first2=Mike |last3=Whitehurst |first3=Lindsay |last4=Bajak |first4=Frank |date=21 Mar 2024 |title=Justice Department sues Apple, alleging it illegally monopolized the smartphone market |url=https://apnews.com/article/apple-antitrust-monopoly-app-store-justice-department-822d7e8f5cf53a2636795fcc33ee1fc3 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://archive.ph/BB4Zn |archive-date=21 Mar 2024 |access-date=16 Mar 2025 |website=[[APNews]]}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |date=19 Feb 2021 |title=It’s time to free ourselves from ‘Big Tech’ monopoly |url=https://azcapitoltimes.com/news/2021/02/19/its-time-to-free-ourselves-from-big-tech-monopoly/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://archive.ph/bLDwu |archive-date=23 Feb 2021 |access-date=16 Mar 2025 |website=[[Arizona Capitol Times]]}}</ref> have opened investigations into anti-competitive practices as well as have considered or passed legislation to require "gatekeeper platforms" such as Apple to be more reasonable with third-party developers.

In response to such legislative measures, Apple has instituted geo-blocking operating system functionality based on physical location,<ref>{{Cite web |title=Eligibility |url=https://theapplewiki.com/wiki/Eligibility |url-status=live |archive-url=https://archive.ph/Df7hl |archive-date=7 Jan 2026 |access-date=16 Mar 2025 |website=[[The Apple Wiki]]}}</ref> misrepresenting/overstating risks, and using careful wording with commonly understood terms to describe difficult-to-use systems.{{Citation needed}}

Unlike traditional software license purchases, Apple's App Store terms tie the license to a specific account, making it impossible for users to resell their licenses secondhand, buy apps secondhand, or inherit a license from a relative.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2014-02-10 |title=I can sell my apps? |url=https://discussions.apple.com/thread/5888894 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://archive.ph/DelOf |archive-date=7 Jan 2026 |access-date=2025-11-25 |website=Apple Community}}</ref> This system has since been copied by numerous other players in the media and digital goods sector.

==Background info==
Important terms in this article:

*'''[[wikipedia:Sandbox (computer security)|Sandbox]]''': Reduces the user's device/data exposure to security risks by reducing what an app is allowed to do.
*'''[https://theapplewiki.com/wiki/Entitlements Entitlements]''': Apple's method of "poking holes" in the sandbox to give the app more permissions. Some are available to developers, while many are only available to Apple.
*'''[[wikipedia:Digital Markets Act|Digital Markets Act]]''': The European Union's recent regulations targeted at large "Big Tech" companies, classified as "Gatekeepers," and aimed at creating a more fair level of competition in digital markets, particularly for small or emerging companies.

==In-app purchases==
Apple has been collecting users' credit card numbers since launching the iTunes Store in 2004. The launch of the App Store in 2008, followed by the introduction of in-app purchases (IAPs) in 2009, allowed iPhone app developers to sell app features to users. The IAP system is provided as a developer framework named [https://developer.apple.com/storekit/ StoreKit]. Apps and their in-app purchases are managed through a dashboard named [https://developer.apple.com/app-store-connect/ App Store Connect]. App sales have eclipsed iTunes Store sales and are now a primary focus of Apple's Media Services division. Apple requires that any purchase of a digital good or service within an app use its in-app purchase system.

App Store purchase fees range from 15% to 30%. In September 2016, Apple expanded subscriptions to be available for any type of app, also introducing a 15% discount incentive for users who had already subscribed for a year.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Goode |first=Lauren |date=2 Sep 2016 |title=Apple’s new subscription offerings are now available to App Store developers |url=https://www.theverge.com/2016/9/2/12774758/apple-developers-app-store-new-subscription-rules |url-status=live |archive-url=https://archive.ph/KmJCn |archive-date=7 Jan 202 |access-date=16 Mar 2025 |website=[[The Verge]]}}</ref> In November 2020, Apple introduced a reduced 15% fee for app developers with annual revenue below $1 million.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Centers |first=Josh |date=18 Nov 2020 |title=Apple Drops App Store Commission to 15% for Small Developers |url=https://tidbits.com/2020/11/18/apple-drops-app-store-commission-to-15-for-small-developers/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://archive.ph/tt8Hs |archive-date=7 Jan 2026 |access-date=16 Mar 2025 |website=[[TidBITS]]}}</ref> For developers above this threshold, and for cases excluded from this program, such as for games, the fee is 30%. In the 2008 announcement of the App Store, Apple considered this a reasonable, industry-standard fee. However, the way we use apps has significantly evolved since 2009 - the world has shifted to heavily depend upon mobile apps, which have also evolved into more complex and sustainable business models than a simple one-time purchase.

[[wikipedia:Stripe, Inc.|Stripe]], a popular platform used for payments on the web, uses a base fee of 2.9% plus a fixed $0.30 in the United States.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Pricing |url=https://stripe.com/it/pricing |url-status=live |archive-url=https://archive.ph/FoCG4 |archive-date=7 Jan 2026 |access-date=16 Mar 2025 |website=[[Stripe]]}}</ref> With add-on services, before considering volume discounts, a Stripe transaction may have a cost of 6.4% + $1.10.<ref>Calculated from base fee (2.9% + $0.30) + international card (1.5%) + adaptive pricing (2%) + international payment methods ($0.80), as of January 2025</ref> Stripe has been used by businesses ranging from small online stores to [[OpenAI]] for ChatGPT Plus. Competing payment services have similar or identical fees to Stripe. '''The in-app purchase system does not provide sufficient value to justify the considerably higher costs compared to alternative payment platforms.'''

The App Store system poorly handles secondary marketplaces of digital services that exist within the primary App Store marketplace, such as Patreon. Apple requires companies selling digital services to use this inadequate system, in which app developers must account for Apple's fee, which is significant enough to warrant price increases, and to follow rules even if they do not align with the nature of the service being provided. This has led to disputes between Apple and app developers and injects complications at no benefit to the marketplace, the developers, or the end users. The main beneficiary of this system is Apple, which has little to no involvement after delivering the initial app download to the user's phone. The significant fee also often drives app developers to consider building their app around an advertising model instead, creating privacy concerns.

Additionally, the 15% small business fee discount is determined based on the app's overall turnover and is not applied to individual creators within the app's marketplace. An app that generates over $1 million per year by providing services to creators who individually earn less than $1 million per year does not qualify for the discount.

Apple, often in conjunction with Google, engages in lobbying efforts in the United States and other countries to address these issues. "ACT | The App Association", pitched as an association of independent small business app developers, is at least 50% funded by Apple, and does not list its claimed 2,000 members.<ref>{{Cite web |date=1 Oct 2021 |title=Not a class ACT: the so-called App Association is simply an Apple Association and does NOT represent app developers' interests in fair distribution terms |url=https://www.fosspatents.com/2021/10/not-class-act-so-called-app-association.html |url-status=live |archive-url=https://archive.ph/eyn0i |archive-date=7 Jan 2026 |access-date=16 Mar 2025 |website=[[FOSS Patents]]}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |date=19 Sep 2022 |title=Vast majority of ACT {{!}} The App Association's funding comes from Apple, former employees tell Bloomberg: astroturfing against app developers' interests |url=https://www.fosspatents.com/2022/09/vast-majority-of-act-app-associations.html |url-status=live |archive-url=https://archive.ph/eGRNV |archive-date=7 Jan 2026 |access-date=16 Mar 2025 |website=[[FOSS Patents]]}}</ref> In March 2024, the United States Department of Justice, along with 16 state attorneys general, filed a lawsuit against Apple, alleging that the company "extracts more money from consumers, developers, content creators, artists, publishers, small businesses, and merchants, among others."<ref name="doj" /> The future of this lawsuit is unclear as of April 2025.

Despite criticism of Apple imposing its fee on transactions with small businesses and creators on platforms such as [[#Patreon|Patreon]] and [[#Facebook online events|Facebook]], on January 23, 2025, Apple announced the Advanced Commerce API. It "support[s] developers' evolving business models - such as extensive content catalogs, creator experiences, and subscriptions with optional add-ons."<ref>{{Cite web |date=23 Jan 2025 |title=Introducing the Advanced Commerce API |url=https://developer.apple.com/news/?id=yxy958ya |url-status=live |archive-url=https://archive.ph/KEH8h |archive-date=23 Jan 2025 |access-date=16 Mar 2025 |website=[[Apple Developer]]}}</ref> While positioned as a way for such businesses to save development time and avoid ongoing costs by building on top of Apple's established payments platform, its use is necessary for these businesses to comply with the App Store guidelines, as seen in the cases outlined below. The feature requires submitting a description of the app's business model to Apple for approval. In this case, Apple is not acting as a platform for digital services but a gatekeeper of who is and is not allowed to conduct business in the digital market.

===Epic Games===
{{hatnote|See also: [[wikipedia:Epic Games v. Apple|Epic Games v. Apple]] and [[wikipedia:Epic Games v. Google|Epic Games v. Google]]}}

[[Epic Games, Inc.]] is a video game developer and publisher, known for games such as [[Fortnite]] and [[Unreal Tournament]], the [[Unreal Engine]], and the [[Epic Games Store]].

In 2018, Epic Games launched Fortnite on the iOS and Android platforms. The company made the unusual decision not to release the app on the [[Google Play Store]] - instead, it was made available as a standalone [[wikipedia:apk (file format)|Android app package]] file (.apk), which must be installed by following a series of manual steps.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Statt |first=Nick |date=3 Aug 2018 |title=Fortnite for Android will ditch Google Play Store for Epic’s website |url=https://www.theverge.com/2018/8/3/17645982/epic-games-fortnite-android-version-bypass-google-play-store |url-status=live |archive-url=https://archive.ph/yTQLj |archive-date=16 Mar 2021 |access-date=1 May 2025 |website=[[The Verge]]}}</ref> The app was also released on the [[Samsung]] [[Samsung Galaxy Store|Galaxy Store]]. Google offered Epic Games a $147 million deal to release Fortnite on the Play Store, which the company declined.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Robertson |first=Adi |date=9 Nov 2023 |title=Google offered Epic $147 million to launch Fortnite on the Play Store |url=https://www.theverge.com/2023/11/8/23953262/google-epic-fortnite-play-store-investment-antitrust-trial |url-status=live |archive-url=https://archive.ph/poKzi |archive-date=9 Nov 2023 |access-date=1 May 2025 |website=[[The Verge]]}}</ref>

On 22 April 2020, Fortnite was finally released on the Play Store.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Carpenter |first=Nicole |date=22 April 2020 |title=Fortnite available on the Google Play Store for the first time |url=https://www.polygon.com/2020/4/21/21229930/fortnite-available-on-google-play-android-mobile-devices |url-status=live |archive-url=https://archive.ph/Z0huU |archive-date=13 Aug 2020 |access-date=1 May 2025 |website=[[Polygon]]}}</ref> In a statement, the company explained:

<blockquote>
After 18 months of operating Fortnite on Android outside of the Google Play Store, we've come to a basic realization: Google puts software downloadable outside of Google Play at a disadvantage, through technical and business measures such as scary, repetitive security pop-ups for downloaded and updated software, restrictive manufacturer and carrier agreements and dealings, Google public relations characterizing third party software sources as malware, and new efforts such as Google Play Protect to outright block software obtained outside the Google Play store.
</blockquote>

On 13 August 2020, Epic Games launched a campaign against both Apple and Google's app store business practices. The company released app updates on both platforms, introducing a method for purchasing V-Bucks, in-game currency, at a 20% discount by directly transacting with Epic Games, against the developer rules of both platforms. The platforms responded by removing the game from their storefronts. Epic Games then filed civil antitrust lawsuits against both companies in the Northern District of California.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Statt |first=Nick |date=14 Aug 2020 |title=Epic Games is suing Apple |url=https://www.theverge.com/2020/8/13/21367963/epic-fortnite-legal-complaint-apple-ios-app-store-removal-injunctive-relief |url-status=live |archive-url=https://archive.ph/vfFgU |archive-date=14 Aug 2020 |access-date=1 May 2025 |website=[[The Verge]]}}</ref> The campaign, branded "Free Fortnite," was later extended with lawsuits and complaints in Australia,<ref>{{Cite web |date=18 Nov 2020 |title=Epic Games extends its fight against Apple to Australia |url=https://www.epicgames.com/site/en-US/freefortnite-australia-press-release |url-status=live |access-date=16 Mar 2025 |website=[[Epic Games]] |archive-url=http://web.archive.org/web/20251219044545/https://www.epicgames.com/site/en-US/freefortnite-australia-press-release |archive-date=19 Dec 2025}}</ref> the European Union,<ref>{{Cite web |date=17 Feb 2021 |title=Epic Game Files EU Antitrust Complaint Against Apple |url=https://www.epicgames.com/site/en-US/news/epic-games-files-eu-antitrust-complaint-against-apple |url-status=live |archive-url=https://archive.ph/0Nqn7 |archive-date=26 May 2025 |access-date=16 Mar 2025 |website=[[Epic Games]]}}</ref> and the United Kingdom.<ref>{{Cite web |date=30 Mar 2021 |title=Epic Games files complaint to support CMA Apple investigation |url=https://www.epicgames.com/site/en-US/news/epic-games-files-complaint-to-support-cma-apple-investigation |url-status=live |archive-url=https://archive.ph/FMiCR |archive-date=7 Jan 2026 |access-date=16 Mar 2025 |website=[[Epic Games]]}}</ref>

On September 11, 2021, Judge Yvonne Gonzalez Rogers decided the case. While the lawsuit against Apple failed on nine of the ten counts, Rogers ruled against Apple's use of "anti-steering" - its strategy of preventing users from being "steered" to a third-party storefront for payment processing - and placed a permanent injunction on this behavior.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Brandon |first=Russell |date=11 Sep 2021 |title=Apple must allow other forms of in-app purchase, rules judge in Epic v. Apple |url=https://www.theverge.com/2021/9/10/22662320/epic-apple-ruling-injunction-judge-court-app-store |url-status=live |archive-url=https://archive.ph/gf9tJ |archive-date=10 Sep 2021 |access-date=1 May 2025 |website=[[The Verge]]}}</ref> Despite the case mostly failing, the discovery process provided significant insight into Apple's decision-making process regarding App Store policies, including decisions made in major app review disputes. In one case, executive Phil Schiller argued for reducing the fee by 30%.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Gurman |first=Mark |date=4 May 2021 |title=Apple’s Schiller Floated Cutting App Store Fees a Decade Ago |url=https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2021-05-03/apple-s-schiller-floated-cutting-app-store-fees-a-decade-ago |url-status=live |archive-url=https://archive.ph/R7Zus |archive-date=7 Jan 2026 |access-date=1 May 2025 |website=[[Bloomberg]]}}</ref>

Epic Games and Apple both appealed the decision. Thirty-five state attorneys-general, the [[Electronic Frontier Foundation]] (EFF), [[Microsoft]], among others, filed amicus briefs in support of Epic Games.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Peters |first=Jay |date=29 Jan 2022 |title=Epic largely lost to Apple, but 35 states are now backing its fight in a higher court |url=https://www.theverge.com/2022/1/28/22907106/epic-games-v-apple-amicus-briefs-states-eff-microsoft-appeal |url-status=live |archive-url=https://archive.ph/P0TZY |archive-date=7 Jan 2026 |access-date=1 May 2025 |website=[[The Verge]]}}</ref>

On 11 December 2023, the jury in the case against Google decided in favor of Epic Games on all 11 counts.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Bensinger |first=Greg |last2=Scarcella |first2=Mike |date=13 Dec 2023 |title=Epic Games wins antitrust case against Google over Play app store |url=https://www.reuters.com/legal/google-epic-games-face-off-app-antitrust-trial-nears-end-2023-12-11/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://archive.ph/WaLBK |archive-date=12 Dec 2023 |access-date=1 May 2025 |website=[[Reuters]]}}</ref>

On 1 May 2025, Rogers found that Apple willfully chose not to comply with the 2021 injunction, commenting that it was a "gross miscalculation" that "this court would tolerate such insubordination."<ref>{{Cite web |last=Peters |first=Jay |date=1 May 2025 |title=A judge just blew up Apple’s control of the App Store |url=https://www.theverge.com/news/659246/apple-epic-app-store-judge-ruling-control |url-status=live |archive-url=https://archive.ph/IThaV |archive-date=1 May 2025 |access-date=1 May 2025 |website=[[The Verge]]}}</ref>

===Facebook online events===
In August 2020, in response to the COVID-19 pandemic, Facebook introduced the ability for small businesses to accept an entrance fee for events. Previously, Facebook would only serve as a way to RSVP for an event; the organizer had to use a third-party event ticketing system to collect fees. The company pledged not to collect any fee on event sales "until 2023."<ref>{{Cite web |date=14 Aug 2020 |title=Paid Online Events for Small Business Recovery |url=https://about.fb.com/news/2020/08/paid-online-events/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://archive.ph/7X7KH |archive-date=6 Sep 2020 |access-date=16 Mar 2025 |website=[[Meta]]}}</ref>

Apple, however, required the feature to use an in-app purchases system. This introduced Apple's 30% fee. Because this increased the cost for end users and was not a fee imposed by the event holders, it was initially displayed as a line item upon check out. Apple argued that this disclosure was "irrelevant."<ref name="facebook" /> In the end, Facebook was allowed display the fee, but ''without'' stating that it was an App Store fee. Apple's reluctance to have these fees transparently shown and identified in the course of the purchase is confusing if such fees considered necessary and fair.

===HEY===
HEY.com is a paid webmail provider launched in June 2020 by long-time software company [[wikipedia:37signals|37signals]], specializing in inbox organization tools.

After successfully launching the initial version of the app on the App Store, the company announced that an update was rejected due to a complaint about the business model. The app does not support in-app purchases; instead, users are expected to have an account with the service already. Apple did not like this arrangement and demanded that the company build an in-app subscription option. The company argued that it is being held to a different set of rules than apps such as [[Netflix, Inc.|Netflix]], whose app does not provide any way to purchase a subscription.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Kastrenakes |first=Jacob |date=17 Jun 2020 |title=Hey.com exec says Apple is acting like ‘gangsters,’ rejecting App Store updates and demanding cut of sales |url=https://www.theverge.com/2020/6/16/21293419/hey-apple-rejection-ios-app-store-dhh-gangsters-antitrust |url-status=live |archive-url=https://archive.ph/OERP2 |archive-date=28 Jun 2020 |access-date=16 Mar 2025 |website=[[The Verge]]}}</ref> After a suggestion from Apple executive Phil Schiller in the media, HEY introduced a 14-day free trial mode, which was approved.<ref>https://www.hey.com/apple/path/ ([http://web.archive.org/web/20251114230238/https://www.hey.com/apple/path/ Archived])</ref><ref>https://techcrunch.com/2020/06/18/interview-apples-schiller-says-position-on-hey-app-is-unchanged-and-no-rules-changes-are-imminent/ ([http://web.archive.org/web/20251113115149/https://techcrunch.com/2020/06/18/interview-apples-schiller-says-position-on-hey-app-is-unchanged-and-no-rules-changes-are-imminent/ Archived])</ref>

===Patreon===
In August 2024, [[Patreon]] announced a change in arrangement with Apple for its App Store app. From November 2024, subscriptions started from the iOS app would be required to use the in-app purchase system, bypassing Patreon's own long-standing payment practices.<ref>{{Cite web |date=12 Aug 2024 |title=Apple’s requirements are about to hit creators and fans on Patreon. Here’s what you need to know. |url=https://news.patreon.com/articles/understanding-apple-requirements-for-patreon |url-status=live |archive-url=https://archive.ph/3Wid0 |archive-date=14 Aug 2024 |access-date=16 Mar 2025 |website=[[Patreon]]}}</ref><ref name="patreon" /> This change does not affect the Android app.

By forcing Patreon out of the payments pipeline, specific payment models are no longer available to users of Patreon's iOS app. Creators who rely on the "per-creation" payment model, as opposed to the standard "per-month", can no longer be subscribed to from the app. The app is also unable to support the "first-of-the-month" model, where payments from all subscribers are collected on the first day of the month, rather than every 30 days, since each member's subscription day varies. The price must also be rounded to a price tier supported by Apple.

Patreon allows creators to choose between increasing their prices by 30% in the iOS app or maintaining the same prices, forfeiting 30% to Apple. Creators frequently remind potential supporters not to use the Patreon iOS app, adding extra inconvenience to those wanting to support the work of small creators.

<gallery mode="packed" heights="400px">
File:Patreon iOS app pricing options - fee on top.png|"Maintain earnings and cover Apple's fee by increasing prices in the iOS app" (Recommended)
File:Patreon iOS app pricing options - absorb fee.png|"Keep prices in the iOS app the same and cover Apple's fee yourself."
</gallery>

A similar case occurred with the app Fanhouse in 2021.<ref>{{Cite web |last=@jasminericegirl |date=9 Jun 2021 |title=#fuckapple, a thread I cofounded @fanhouseapp 8 months ago to empower creators to monetize their content. We pay creators 90% of earnings. Now, Apple is threatening to remove Fanhouse from the app store unless we give them 30% of creator earnings. This is theft and exploitation. |url=https://x.com/jasminericegirl/status/1402691047940100100 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://archive.ph/U0qQw |archive-date=7 Jan 2026 |access-date=16 Mar 2025 |website=[[X]]}}</ref>

===Twitter===
In August 2021, [[Twitter]] introduced a feature named Super Follows (now Subscriptions), in which users can pay a subscription fee to access more of a creator's content. For each user who enables Subscriptions, Twitter must submit a new in-app purchase SKU to the App Store, which will become available with the next update to the app.<ref>{{Cite web |last=@wongmjane |date=2 Sep 2021 |title=Each Super Follow is an In-App Purchase on the App Store, but because there are too many IAPs for the Twitter app, the App Store only shows 10 instead of the full list |url=https://x.com/wongmjane/status/1433372120080261120 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://archive.ph/3gqwM |archive-date=7 Jan 2026 |access-date=16 Mar 2025 |website=[[X]]}}</ref> This, of course, is subject to the 30% fee. At the time of writing in January 2025, viewing the App Store listing reveals Elon Musk's $4.00 subscription as the fourth most popular IAP item.

==Notarization==
Since 2015, Apple has required all Mac apps to be "notarized." This is a preliminary, automated malware check, which, upon passing, provides a notary certificate that gets "stapled" to the app. Apple's explanation:

<blockquote>
Notarization of macOS software is not App Review. The Apple notary service is an automated system that scans your software for malicious content, checks for code-signing issues, and returns the results to you quickly. If there are no issues, the notary service generates a ticket for you to staple to your software; the notary service also publishes that ticket online where Gatekeeper can find it.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Notarizing macOS software before distribution |url=https://developer.apple.com/documentation/security/notarizing-macos-software-before-distribution |url-status=live |archive-url=https://archive.ph/H4EO9 |archive-date=26 Nov 2024 |access-date=16 Mar 2025 |website=[[Apple Developer]]}}</ref>
</blockquote>

Whether this approach is actually better than that used by Windows antivirus, which only detects new malware samples when they are already on a user's computer, is a separate topic.

To comply with the DMA's regulations on app marketplaces, Apple created a new channel for releasing apps outside of the iOS App Store. Apps go through a notarization process. But the process is definitely ''not'' notarization. The name is intentionally being abused, by contrast to notarization on macOS, to make you believe it is something other than the existing App Review system. Despite the pain some developers and users have with it, notarization on macOS has always been considered a net positive. It made sense to take advantage of its reputation for the entirely different "notarization" on iOS.

See for yourself - view the [https://developer.apple.com/app-store/review/guidelines/ App Review Guidelines] and tick "Show Notarization Review Guidelines Only". While this eliminates most rules, a significant number of them remain in place. These apps are still reviewed and tested by the App Review team, must have a complete product listing in App Store Connect, and can be outright rejected - all in the same way as an App Store app.

By contrast, all that is required for notarization on macOS is for your app not to be malware. You submit it to an automated system that approves it within minutes. '''You don't need to convince Apple that your app is worthy of existing on their platform.'''

The purpose of macOS notarization is that Apple maintains a record of all binaries intended for wide distribution on macOS, allowing it to review them both in advance and regularly for known malware/common malware patterns. If a malware app manages to get through, when Apple initially finds out, they can go back into the notary records and find every sample of that malware to analyze and block. This is a purely technical process, managed by skilled security researchers. At the same time, iOS app review and "notarization" are business processes managed by workers who have been given a checklist of violations to look for.

Apple is retaining complete control over what's allowed to run on iOS. On macOS, you can choose to run apps that have not been notarized (even though the process to bypass the warning is intentionally difficult). On iOS, you never get even that option. What Apple created is the App Store, but with more steps. It is still available on the App Store, but it is hidden so that it can only be installed through the third-party store it's tied to.

*Mysk: "iOS should enable alternative marketplaces to add their own links when users share their apps. Links still point to the App Store, and if the app is not available there, this happens."<ref>{{Cite web |last=@mysk_co |date=28 Jun 2024 |title=iOS should enable alternative marketplaces to add their own links when users share their apps. Links still point to the App Store and if the app is not available there, this happens: |url=https://x.com/mysk_co/status/1806638308455256242 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://archive.ph/DsQQH |archive-date=7 Jan 2026 |access-date=16 Mar 2025 |website=[[X]]}}</ref>

==JIT==
The following paragraph is highly technical: JIT allows for speedy programs/apps, and due to its fast nature, it's used almost everywhere and represents a massive improvement over older code interpreters.

[[wikipedia:Just-in-time compilation|JIT]], which stands for Just-In-Time, is a method of code execution where code, instead of being compiled before being distributed (like an EXE), gets compiled into machine code in real time right before being executed. This method of code execution allows for much faster website loading times, speedier emulation, faster program execution (with programs written in JavaScript, Python, Lua...) compared to interpreters, which instead translate code into machine code line by line, which is much, much slower; JIT also employs many more optimization techniques meant to improve performance.

Safari is allowed to use JIT to compile code from any site, just like Apple's [https://apps.apple.com/app/swift-playgrounds/id908519492 Playgrounds] app on iPad. Playgrounds bundle Apple's [[wikipedia:Swift (programming language)|Swift]] compiler and share backend code with the version of Playgrounds found in [[wikipedia:Xcode|Xcode]].

Third-party apps, such as Pythonista (a Python IDE), emulators like Delta and UTM, and terminal environments like iSH, are not allowed to use JIT; instead, they must interpret code, which results in severe performance degradation and increased computational expense, potentially draining more battery.

An example of apps being heavily affected by this restriction is UTM. UTM is a port of [[wikipedia:QEMU|QEMU]] for iOS, iPadOS, and macOS, allowing users to create [[wikipedia:Virtual_machine|VMs]] that can run various operating systems, such as Microsoft Windows. The iPhone's hardware is capable enough to emulate various modern OSes at full speed. Still, due to Apple's JIT limitation, the team behind UTM had to create UTM SE (slow edition), which doesn't require JIT but is nowhere near as fast as UTM with JIT, only being capable of running MS-DOS and derivatives at acceptable speeds. While methods that enable JIT for apps other than Safari and Playgrounds exist (some are currently working on iOS 18.5, like [https://apps.apple.com/us/app/stikdebug/id6744045754 StikDebug]), Apple does not allow the use of JIT in notarized apps, meaning that apps that support JIT will have to be sideloaded, which comes with its own set of restrictions.

In the EU, Apple permitted web browsers to use rendering and JavaScript engines other than the built-in with Apple WebKit/JavaScriptCore, with the option for JS engines to use JIT. The browser still needs to be approved by Apple for an entitlement and must then work within the APIs provided by Apple. However, as of January 2025, no browsers using engines different from the built-in ones have been released, primarily due to arbitrarily imposed restrictions intended to discourage the use and development of third-party engines.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Mozilla says Apple’s new browser rules are ‘as painful as possible’ for Firefox |url=https://www.theverge.com/2024/1/26/24052067/mozilla-apple-ios-browser-rules-firefox |url-status=live |archive-url=https://archive.ph/720xn |archive-date=26 Jan 2024 |access-date=16 Mar 2025 |website=[[The Verge]]}}</ref>

However, Apple still does not allow different engines outside of the EU, with or without JIT support.<ref>{{Cite web |title=App Review Guidelines |url=https://developer.apple.com/app-store/review/guidelines/#2.5.6 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://archive.ph/D9fQQ |archive-date=7 Jan 2026 |access-date=16 Mar 2025 |website=[[Apple Developer]]}}</ref>
==In-app browsers==
When apps want to display web content without opening the standalone Safari browser, app developers can use Apple’s [https://developer.apple.com/documentation/webkit/ WebKit] APIs, such as WKWebView. However, due to Apple’s [https://developer.apple.com/documentation/security/app-sandbox application sandboxing] and WebKit’s data-isolation model, web content loaded inside one app does not have access to Safari’s cookies, browsing history, saved sessions, or extensions, nor to data from other apps’ embedded web views. Each app’s embedded browser operates with its own isolated website data store.

As a result, web pages opened inside embedded browsers, such as those used in apps like Facebook, do not appear in Safari’s browsing history, and there is typically no persistent, user-accessible history within the app itself. Users may also be asked to sign in to the same services (for example, during OAuth login flows like Google) because cookies and session data are not shared with Safari. Additionally, Safari extensions, including content blockers, dark-mode tools, and other privacy or accessibility extensions, do not function inside embedded web views.

Apple states App Sandboxing "provides protection to system resources and user data by limiting your app’s access to resources requested through entitlements."<ref>{{Cite web |date=2025-01-12 |title=App Sandbox {{!}} Apple Developer Documentation |url=https://developer.apple.com/documentation/security/app-sandbox |url-status=live |archive-url=https://archive.ph/IkLXF |archive-date=2026-02-20 |access-date=2025-01-12 |website=Apple Developer}}</ref> However, developers have voiced frustration with how WebKit is sandboxed which can result in degraded user experiences, such as with repeated OAuth login flows between apps.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2025-01-12 |title=Impact of iOS 11 no longer providing shared cookies between Safari, Safari View Controller instances |url=https://github.com/openid/AppAuth-iOS/issues/120 |url-status=live |access-date=2025-01-12 |website=GitHub |archive-url=http://web.archive.org/web/20251113172345/https://github.com/openid/AppAuth-iOS/issues/120 |archive-date=13 Nov 2025}}</ref> Some developers have found workarounds for sharing information with the native Safari app, but it is unknown whether these methods still function in modern versions Apple's various operating systems.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Storey |first=Leon |date=2025-01-12 |title=Does WKWebView uses cookies from Safari? |url=https://stackoverflow.com/a/41486576 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20260218231045/https://stackoverflow.com/questions/40148060/does-wkwebview-uses-cookies-from-safari |archive-date=2026-02-18 |access-date=2025-01-12 |website=StackOverflow}}</ref>

==See also==
*[https://theapplewiki.com/wiki/Eligibility Eligibility]
*Posts written by the author of this article:
**[https://adamdemasi.com/2024/04/19/app-marketplace-experience.html The iOS 17.4 app marketplace flow is a disaster] ([https://web.archive.org/web/20251112051617/https://adamdemasi.com/2024/04/19/app-marketplace-experience.html Archived] 2025-11-12)
**[https://adamdemasi.com/2024/04/20/ios-eligibility.html How I tricked iOS into giving me EU DMA features] ([https://web.archive.org/web/20260112053403/https://adamdemasi.com/2024/04/20/ios-eligibility.html Archived] 2026-01-12)
**[https://adamdemasi.com/2024/04/23/ios-eligibility-features.html Features controlled by iOS 17.4's eligibility system] ([https://web.archive.org/web/20260112053400/https://adamdemasi.com/2024/04/23/ios-eligibility-features.html Archived] 2026-01-12)

==References==
<references />

[[Category:Apple App Store]]

Apple App Store

2026-02-22T14:46:10Z

CopyeditorHF: Added comment requesting clarification of Apple's response to legislation attempting to regulate its App Store.

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'''[[Apple]]''' uses a range of technical measures to maintain control over the App Store ecosystem. While Apple cites security and user-friendliness as the reasoning behind these measures, they often create roadblocks for users as well as app developers. Some of the methods Apple uses to control its ecosystem hinders lawmakers' ability to advocate for the rights of consumers and businesses within Apple's ecosystem and prevents apps from being as useful and free as their customers expect.

Although there are supported iOS application installation source alternatives such as [https://altstore.io/ Altstore], they are not commonly used or known, which gives Apple a practical monopoly over iOS users and iOS app developers.

Apple has made claims that they are unaware about the profitability of the App Store<ref>{{Cite web |last=Lovejoy |first=Ben |date=17 Apr 2024 |title=Schiller doesn’t know whether the App Store is profitable; there are no minutes of meetings |url=https://9to5mac.com/2024/04/17/app-store-is-profitable-apple-notes/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://archive.ph/AinvZ |archive-date=7 Jan 2026 |access-date=16 Mar 2025 |website=[[9to5Mac]]}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Lovejoy |first=Ben |date=17 Jan 2025 |title=Apple denies App Store profit margin is 75% – claims to have no clue |url=https://9to5mac.com/2025/01/17/apple-denies-app-store-profit-margin-is-75-claims-to-have-no-clue/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://archive.ph/Df7hl |archive-date=7 Jan 2026 |access-date=16 Mar 2025 |website=[[9t05Mac]]}}</ref> but takes fees of up to 30% on digital product sales and subscriptions,<ref>{{Cite web |last=Mehta |first=Tushar |date=2025-05-06 |title=Apple cuts App Store fees, but experts urge caution against new U.S. pricing guidelines |url=https://www.digitaltrends.com/phones/what-experts-say-about-apple-app-store-pricing-changes/ |access-date=2026-02-20 |website=digitaltrends}}</ref> ranging from game currency to supporting content creators<ref name="patreon">{{Cite web |last=Roth |first=Emma |date=12 Aug 2024 |title=Patreon: adding Apple’s 30 percent tax is the price of staying in the App Store |url=https://www.theverge.com/2024/8/12/24218629/patreon-membership-ios-30-percent-apple-tax |url-status=live |archive-url=https://archive.ph/Vi9cV |archive-date=13 Nov 2024 |access-date=16 Mar 2025 |website=[[The Verge]]}}</ref> to booking a Zoom call with a local business.<ref name="facebook">{{Cite web |last=Paul |first=Katie |last2=Nellis |first2=Stephen |date=28 Aug 2020 |title=Exclusive: Facebook says Apple rejected its attempt to tell users about App Store fees |url=https://www.reuters.com/article/us-facebook-apple-exclusive/exclusive-facebook-says-apple-rejected-its-attempt-to-tell-users-about-app-store-fees-idUSKBN25O042/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://archive.ph/9CJDN |archive-date=7 Jan 2026 |access-date=16 Mar 2025 |website=[[Reuters]]}}</ref> Some argue that these fees hinder iOS app developers from innovating because this money cannot be used to further improve their applications.{{Citation needed}} There are groups in support of developers who are experiencing difficulties in continuing development due to Apple (and [[Google]]'s) fees of between 15% and 30% of all revenue. These groups deny the notion that Apple and Google require the money generated by the app more than the developer.{{Citation needed}} These fees also push app developers to increase prices to maximize profits, which increases the prices for end users.

Because of this, several governments including South Korea,<ref>{{Cite web |date=8 Mar 2022 |title=South Korea approves rules on app store law targeting Apple, Google |url=https://www.reuters.com/technology/skorea-approves-rules-app-store-law-targeting-apple-google-2022-03-08/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://archive.ph/q1VQW |archive-date=11 Jan 2023 |access-date=16 Mar 2025 |website=[[Reuters]]}}</ref> Japan,<ref>{{Cite web |last=Sharwood |first=Simon |date=13 Jun 2024 |title=Japan forces Apple and Google to allow third-party app stores and payments |url=https://www.theregister.com/2024/06/13/japan_smartphone_software_law/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://archive.ph/Jj9BI |archive-date=13 Jun 2024 |access-date=16 Mar 2025 |website=[[The Register]]}}</ref> the European Union,<ref>[[wikipedia:Digital Markets Act|Digital Markets Act]]</ref> the United Kingdom,<ref>{{Cite web |last=Competition and Markets Authority |date=4 Mar 2021 |title=Investigation into Apple AppStore |url=https://www.gov.uk/cma-cases/investigation-into-apple-appstore |url-status=live |archive-url=https://archive.ph/uZ7A5 |archive-date=7 Jan 2026 |access-date=16 Mar 2025 |website=[[gov.uk]]}}</ref> Australia,<ref>{{Cite web |date=28 Apr 2021 |title=Dominance of Apple and Google's app stores impacting competition and consumers |url=https://www.accc.gov.au/media-release/dominance-of-apple-and-googles-app-stores-impacting-competition-and-consumers |url-status=live |archive-url=https://archive.ph/Bw3gv |archive-date=7 Jan 2026 |access-date=16 Mar 2025 |website=[[ACCC]]}}</ref> as well as the US and a handful of US States<ref>[[wikipedia:Open App Markets Act|Open App Markets Act]]</ref><ref>{{Cite web |date=20 Nov 2024 |title=S.5364 - App Store Accountability Act |url=https://www.congress.gov/bill/118th-congress/senate-bill/5364/text/is |url-status=live |archive-url=https://archive.ph/7yPxE |archive-date=7 Jan 2026 |access-date=16 Mar 2025 |website=[[congress.gov]]}}</ref><ref name="doj">{{Cite web |last=Balsamo |first=Mike |last2=Liedtke |first2=Mike |last3=Whitehurst |first3=Lindsay |last4=Bajak |first4=Frank |date=21 Mar 2024 |title=Justice Department sues Apple, alleging it illegally monopolized the smartphone market |url=https://apnews.com/article/apple-antitrust-monopoly-app-store-justice-department-822d7e8f5cf53a2636795fcc33ee1fc3 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://archive.ph/BB4Zn |archive-date=21 Mar 2024 |access-date=16 Mar 2025 |website=[[APNews]]}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |date=19 Feb 2021 |title=It’s time to free ourselves from ‘Big Tech’ monopoly |url=https://azcapitoltimes.com/news/2021/02/19/its-time-to-free-ourselves-from-big-tech-monopoly/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://archive.ph/bLDwu |archive-date=23 Feb 2021 |access-date=16 Mar 2025 |website=[[Arizona Capitol Times]]}}</ref> have opened investigations into anti-competitive practices as well as have considered or passed legislation to require "gatekeeper platforms" such as Apple to be more reasonable with third-party developers.

In response to such legislative measures, Apple has instituted geo-blocking operating system functionality based on physical location,<ref>{{Cite web |title=Eligibility |url=https://theapplewiki.com/wiki/Eligibility |url-status=live |archive-url=https://archive.ph/Df7hl |archive-date=7 Jan 2026 |access-date=16 Mar 2025 |website=[[The Apple Wiki]]}}</ref> misrepresenting/overstating risks, and using careful wording with commonly understood terms to describe difficult-to-use systems.{{Citation needed}}

Unlike traditional software license purchases, Apple's App Store terms tie the license to a specific account, making it impossible for users to resell their licenses secondhand, buy apps secondhand, or inherit a license from a relative.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2014-02-10 |title=I can sell my apps? |url=https://discussions.apple.com/thread/5888894 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://archive.ph/DelOf |archive-date=7 Jan 2026 |access-date=2025-11-25 |website=Apple Community}}</ref> This system has since been copied by numerous other players in the media and digital goods sector.

==Background info==
Important terms in this article:

*'''[[wikipedia:Sandbox (computer security)|Sandbox]]''': Reduces the user's device/data exposure to security risks by reducing what an app is allowed to do.
*'''[https://theapplewiki.com/wiki/Entitlements Entitlements]''': Apple's method of "poking holes" in the sandbox to give the app more permissions. Some are available to developers, while many are only available to Apple.
*'''[[wikipedia:Digital Markets Act|Digital Markets Act]]''': The European Union's recent regulations targeted at large "Big Tech" companies, classified as "Gatekeepers," and aimed at creating a more fair level of competition in digital markets, particularly for small or emerging companies.

==In-app purchases==
Apple has been collecting users' credit card numbers since launching the iTunes Store in 2004. The launch of the App Store in 2008, followed by the introduction of in-app purchases (IAPs) in 2009, allowed iPhone app developers to sell app features to users. The IAP system is provided as a developer framework named [https://developer.apple.com/storekit/ StoreKit]. Apps and their in-app purchases are managed through a dashboard named [https://developer.apple.com/app-store-connect/ App Store Connect]. App sales have eclipsed iTunes Store sales and are now a primary focus of Apple's Media Services division. Apple requires that any purchase of a digital good or service within an app use its in-app purchase system.

App Store purchase fees range from 15% to 30%. In September 2016, Apple expanded subscriptions to be available for any type of app, also introducing a 15% discount incentive for users who had already subscribed for a year.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Goode |first=Lauren |date=2 Sep 2016 |title=Apple’s new subscription offerings are now available to App Store developers |url=https://www.theverge.com/2016/9/2/12774758/apple-developers-app-store-new-subscription-rules |url-status=live |archive-url=https://archive.ph/KmJCn |archive-date=7 Jan 202 |access-date=16 Mar 2025 |website=[[The Verge]]}}</ref> In November 2020, Apple introduced a reduced 15% fee for app developers with annual revenue below $1 million.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Centers |first=Josh |date=18 Nov 2020 |title=Apple Drops App Store Commission to 15% for Small Developers |url=https://tidbits.com/2020/11/18/apple-drops-app-store-commission-to-15-for-small-developers/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://archive.ph/tt8Hs |archive-date=7 Jan 2026 |access-date=16 Mar 2025 |website=[[TidBITS]]}}</ref> For developers above this threshold, and for cases excluded from this program, such as for games, the fee is 30%. In the 2008 announcement of the App Store, Apple considered this a reasonable, industry-standard fee. However, the way we use apps has significantly evolved since 2009 - the world has shifted to heavily depend upon mobile apps, which have also evolved into more complex and sustainable business models than a simple one-time purchase.

[[wikipedia:Stripe, Inc.|Stripe]], a popular platform used for payments on the web, uses a base fee of 2.9% plus a fixed $0.30 in the United States.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Pricing |url=https://stripe.com/it/pricing |url-status=live |archive-url=https://archive.ph/FoCG4 |archive-date=7 Jan 2026 |access-date=16 Mar 2025 |website=[[Stripe]]}}</ref> With add-on services, before considering volume discounts, a Stripe transaction may have a cost of 6.4% + $1.10.<ref>Calculated from base fee (2.9% + $0.30) + international card (1.5%) + adaptive pricing (2%) + international payment methods ($0.80), as of January 2025</ref> Stripe has been used by businesses ranging from small online stores to [[OpenAI]] for ChatGPT Plus. Competing payment services have similar or identical fees to Stripe. '''The in-app purchase system does not provide sufficient value to justify the considerably higher costs compared to alternative payment platforms.'''

The App Store system poorly handles secondary marketplaces of digital services that exist within the primary App Store marketplace, such as Patreon. Apple requires companies selling digital services to use this inadequate system, in which app developers must account for Apple's fee, which is significant enough to warrant price increases, and to follow rules even if they do not align with the nature of the service being provided. This has led to disputes between Apple and app developers and injects complications at no benefit to the marketplace, the developers, or the end users. The main beneficiary of this system is Apple, which has little to no involvement after delivering the initial app download to the user's phone. The significant fee also often drives app developers to consider building their app around an advertising model instead, creating privacy concerns.

Additionally, the 15% small business fee discount is determined based on the app's overall turnover and is not applied to individual creators within the app's marketplace. An app that generates over $1 million per year by providing services to creators who individually earn less than $1 million per year does not qualify for the discount.

Apple, often in conjunction with Google, engages in lobbying efforts in the United States and other countries to address these issues. "ACT | The App Association", pitched as an association of independent small business app developers, is at least 50% funded by Apple, and does not list its claimed 2,000 members.<ref>{{Cite web |date=1 Oct 2021 |title=Not a class ACT: the so-called App Association is simply an Apple Association and does NOT represent app developers' interests in fair distribution terms |url=https://www.fosspatents.com/2021/10/not-class-act-so-called-app-association.html |url-status=live |archive-url=https://archive.ph/eyn0i |archive-date=7 Jan 2026 |access-date=16 Mar 2025 |website=[[FOSS Patents]]}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |date=19 Sep 2022 |title=Vast majority of ACT {{!}} The App Association's funding comes from Apple, former employees tell Bloomberg: astroturfing against app developers' interests |url=https://www.fosspatents.com/2022/09/vast-majority-of-act-app-associations.html |url-status=live |archive-url=https://archive.ph/eGRNV |archive-date=7 Jan 2026 |access-date=16 Mar 2025 |website=[[FOSS Patents]]}}</ref> In March 2024, the United States Department of Justice, along with 16 state attorneys general, filed a lawsuit against Apple, alleging that the company "extracts more money from consumers, developers, content creators, artists, publishers, small businesses, and merchants, among others."<ref name="doj" /> The future of this lawsuit is unclear as of April 2025.

Despite criticism of Apple imposing its fee on transactions with small businesses and creators on platforms such as [[#Patreon|Patreon]] and [[#Facebook online events|Facebook]], on January 23, 2025, Apple announced the Advanced Commerce API. It "support[s] developers' evolving business models - such as extensive content catalogs, creator experiences, and subscriptions with optional add-ons."<ref>{{Cite web |date=23 Jan 2025 |title=Introducing the Advanced Commerce API |url=https://developer.apple.com/news/?id=yxy958ya |url-status=live |archive-url=https://archive.ph/KEH8h |archive-date=23 Jan 2025 |access-date=16 Mar 2025 |website=[[Apple Developer]]}}</ref> While positioned as a way for such businesses to save development time and avoid ongoing costs by building on top of Apple's established payments platform, its use is necessary for these businesses to comply with the App Store guidelines, as seen in the cases outlined below. The feature requires submitting a description of the app's business model to Apple for approval. In this case, Apple is not acting as a platform for digital services but a gatekeeper of who is and is not allowed to conduct business in the digital market.

===Epic Games===
{{hatnote|See also: [[wikipedia:Epic Games v. Apple|Epic Games v. Apple]] and [[wikipedia:Epic Games v. Google|Epic Games v. Google]]}}

[[Epic Games, Inc.]] is a video game developer and publisher, known for games such as [[Fortnite]] and [[Unreal Tournament]], the [[Unreal Engine]], and the [[Epic Games Store]].

In 2018, Epic Games launched Fortnite on the iOS and Android platforms. The company made the unusual decision not to release the app on the [[Google Play Store]] - instead, it was made available as a standalone [[wikipedia:apk (file format)|Android app package]] file (.apk), which must be installed by following a series of manual steps.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Statt |first=Nick |date=3 Aug 2018 |title=Fortnite for Android will ditch Google Play Store for Epic’s website |url=https://www.theverge.com/2018/8/3/17645982/epic-games-fortnite-android-version-bypass-google-play-store |url-status=live |archive-url=https://archive.ph/yTQLj |archive-date=16 Mar 2021 |access-date=1 May 2025 |website=[[The Verge]]}}</ref> The app was also released on the [[Samsung]] [[Samsung Galaxy Store|Galaxy Store]]. Google offered Epic Games a $147 million deal to release Fortnite on the Play Store, which the company declined.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Robertson |first=Adi |date=9 Nov 2023 |title=Google offered Epic $147 million to launch Fortnite on the Play Store |url=https://www.theverge.com/2023/11/8/23953262/google-epic-fortnite-play-store-investment-antitrust-trial |url-status=live |archive-url=https://archive.ph/poKzi |archive-date=9 Nov 2023 |access-date=1 May 2025 |website=[[The Verge]]}}</ref>

On 22 April 2020, Fortnite was finally released on the Play Store.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Carpenter |first=Nicole |date=22 April 2020 |title=Fortnite available on the Google Play Store for the first time |url=https://www.polygon.com/2020/4/21/21229930/fortnite-available-on-google-play-android-mobile-devices |url-status=live |archive-url=https://archive.ph/Z0huU |archive-date=13 Aug 2020 |access-date=1 May 2025 |website=[[Polygon]]}}</ref> In a statement, the company explained:

<blockquote>
After 18 months of operating Fortnite on Android outside of the Google Play Store, we've come to a basic realization: Google puts software downloadable outside of Google Play at a disadvantage, through technical and business measures such as scary, repetitive security pop-ups for downloaded and updated software, restrictive manufacturer and carrier agreements and dealings, Google public relations characterizing third party software sources as malware, and new efforts such as Google Play Protect to outright block software obtained outside the Google Play store.
</blockquote>

On 13 August 2020, Epic Games launched a campaign against both Apple and Google's app store business practices. The company released app updates on both platforms, introducing a method for purchasing V-Bucks, in-game currency, at a 20% discount by directly transacting with Epic Games, against the developer rules of both platforms. The platforms responded by removing the game from their storefronts. Epic Games then filed civil antitrust lawsuits against both companies in the Northern District of California.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Statt |first=Nick |date=14 Aug 2020 |title=Epic Games is suing Apple |url=https://www.theverge.com/2020/8/13/21367963/epic-fortnite-legal-complaint-apple-ios-app-store-removal-injunctive-relief |url-status=live |archive-url=https://archive.ph/vfFgU |archive-date=14 Aug 2020 |access-date=1 May 2025 |website=[[The Verge]]}}</ref> The campaign, branded "Free Fortnite", was later extended with lawsuits and complaints in Australia,<ref>{{Cite web |date=18 Nov 2020 |title=Epic Games extends its fight against Apple to Australia |url=https://www.epicgames.com/site/en-US/freefortnite-australia-press-release |url-status=live |access-date=16 Mar 2025 |website=[[Epic Games]] |archive-url=http://web.archive.org/web/20251219044545/https://www.epicgames.com/site/en-US/freefortnite-australia-press-release |archive-date=19 Dec 2025}}</ref> the European Union,<ref>{{Cite web |date=17 Feb 2021 |title=Epic Game Files EU Antitrust Complaint Against Apple |url=https://www.epicgames.com/site/en-US/news/epic-games-files-eu-antitrust-complaint-against-apple |url-status=live |archive-url=https://archive.ph/0Nqn7 |archive-date=26 May 2025 |access-date=16 Mar 2025 |website=[[Epic Games]]}}</ref> and the United Kingdom.<ref>{{Cite web |date=30 Mar 2021 |title=Epic Games files complaint to support CMA Apple investigation |url=https://www.epicgames.com/site/en-US/news/epic-games-files-complaint-to-support-cma-apple-investigation |url-status=live |archive-url=https://archive.ph/FMiCR |archive-date=7 Jan 2026 |access-date=16 Mar 2025 |website=[[Epic Games]]}}</ref>

On September 11, 2021, Judge Yvonne Gonzalez Rogers decided the case. While the lawsuit against Apple failed on nine of the ten counts, Rogers ruled against Apple's use of "anti-steering" - its strategy of preventing users from being "steered" to a third-party storefront for payment processing - and placed a permanent injunction on this behavior.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Brandon |first=Russell |date=11 Sep 2021 |title=Apple must allow other forms of in-app purchase, rules judge in Epic v. Apple |url=https://www.theverge.com/2021/9/10/22662320/epic-apple-ruling-injunction-judge-court-app-store |url-status=live |archive-url=https://archive.ph/gf9tJ |archive-date=10 Sep 2021 |access-date=1 May 2025 |website=[[The Verge]]}}</ref> Despite the case mostly failing, the discovery process provided significant insight into Apple's decision-making process regarding App Store policies, including decisions made in major app review disputes. In one case, executive Phil Schiller argued for reducing the fee by 30%.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Gurman |first=Mark |date=4 May 2021 |title=Apple’s Schiller Floated Cutting App Store Fees a Decade Ago |url=https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2021-05-03/apple-s-schiller-floated-cutting-app-store-fees-a-decade-ago |url-status=live |archive-url=https://archive.ph/R7Zus |archive-date=7 Jan 2026 |access-date=1 May 2025 |website=[[Bloomberg]]}}</ref>

Epic Games and Apple both appealed the decision. 35 state attorneys-general, the [[Electronic Frontier Foundation]] (EFF), [[Microsoft]], among others, filed amicus briefs in support of Epic Games.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Peters |first=Jay |date=29 Jan 2022 |title=Epic largely lost to Apple, but 35 states are now backing its fight in a higher court |url=https://www.theverge.com/2022/1/28/22907106/epic-games-v-apple-amicus-briefs-states-eff-microsoft-appeal |url-status=live |archive-url=https://archive.ph/P0TZY |archive-date=7 Jan 2026 |access-date=1 May 2025 |website=[[The Verge]]}}</ref>

On 11 December 2023, the jury in the case against Google decided on all 11 counts in favor of Epic Games.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Bensinger |first=Greg |last2=Scarcella |first2=Mike |date=13 Dec 2023 |title=Epic Games wins antitrust case against Google over Play app store |url=https://www.reuters.com/legal/google-epic-games-face-off-app-antitrust-trial-nears-end-2023-12-11/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://archive.ph/WaLBK |archive-date=12 Dec 2023 |access-date=1 May 2025 |website=[[Reuters]]}}</ref>

On 1 May 2025, Rogers found that Apple willfully chose not to comply with the 2021 injunction, commenting "that it thought this court would tolerate such insubordination was a gross miscalculation".<ref>{{Cite web |last=Peters |first=Jay |date=1 May 2025 |title=A judge just blew up Apple’s control of the App Store |url=https://www.theverge.com/news/659246/apple-epic-app-store-judge-ruling-control |url-status=live |archive-url=https://archive.ph/IThaV |archive-date=1 May 2025 |access-date=1 May 2025 |website=[[The Verge]]}}</ref>

===Facebook online events===
In August 2020, in response to the COVID-19 pandemic, Facebook introduced the ability for small businesses to accept an entrance fee for events. Previously, Facebook would only serve as a way to RSVP for an event; the organizer had to use a third-party event ticketing system to collect fees. The company pledged not to collect any fee on event sales "until 2023."<ref>{{Cite web |date=14 Aug 2020 |title=Paid Online Events for Small Business Recovery |url=https://about.fb.com/news/2020/08/paid-online-events/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://archive.ph/7X7KH |archive-date=6 Sep 2020 |access-date=16 Mar 2025 |website=[[Meta]]}}</ref>

Apple, however, requiring the feature to use an in-app purchases system. This introduced Apple's 30% fee. Because this increased the cost for end users and was not a fee imposed by the event holders, it was initially displayed as a line item upon check out. Apple argued that this disclosure was "irrelevant."<ref name="facebook" /> In the end, Facebook was allowed display the fee, but ''without'' stating that it was an App Store fee.

===HEY===
HEY.com is a paid webmail provider launched in June 2020 by long-time software company [[wikipedia:37signals|37signals]], specializing in inbox organization tools.

After successfully launching the initial version of the app on the App Store, the company announced that an update was rejected due to a complaint about the business model. The app does not support in-app purchases; instead, users are expected to have an account with the service already. Apple did not like this arrangement and demanded that the company build an in-app subscription option. The company argued that it is being held to a different set of rules than apps such as [[Netflix, Inc.|Netflix]], whose app does not provide any way to purchase a subscription.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Kastrenakes |first=Jacob |date=17 Jun 2020 |title=Hey.com exec says Apple is acting like ‘gangsters,’ rejecting App Store updates and demanding cut of sales |url=https://www.theverge.com/2020/6/16/21293419/hey-apple-rejection-ios-app-store-dhh-gangsters-antitrust |url-status=live |archive-url=https://archive.ph/OERP2 |archive-date=28 Jun 2020 |access-date=16 Mar 2025 |website=[[The Verge]]}}</ref> After a suggestion from Apple executive Phil Schiller in the media, HEY introduced a 14-day free trial mode, which was approved.<ref>https://www.hey.com/apple/path/ ([http://web.archive.org/web/20251114230238/https://www.hey.com/apple/path/ Archived])</ref><ref>https://techcrunch.com/2020/06/18/interview-apples-schiller-says-position-on-hey-app-is-unchanged-and-no-rules-changes-are-imminent/ ([http://web.archive.org/web/20251113115149/https://techcrunch.com/2020/06/18/interview-apples-schiller-says-position-on-hey-app-is-unchanged-and-no-rules-changes-are-imminent/ Archived])</ref>

===Patreon===
In August 2024, [[Patreon]] announced a change in arrangement with Apple for its App Store app. From November 2024, subscriptions started from the iOS app would be required to use the in-app purchase system, bypassing Patreon's own long-standing payment practices.<ref>{{Cite web |date=12 Aug 2024 |title=Apple’s requirements are about to hit creators and fans on Patreon. Here’s what you need to know. |url=https://news.patreon.com/articles/understanding-apple-requirements-for-patreon |url-status=live |archive-url=https://archive.ph/3Wid0 |archive-date=14 Aug 2024 |access-date=16 Mar 2025 |website=[[Patreon]]}}</ref><ref name="patreon" /> This change does not affect the Android app.

By forcing Patreon out of the payments pipeline, specific payment models are no longer available to users of Patreon's iOS app. Creators who rely on the "per-creation" payment model, as opposed to the standard "per-month", can no longer be subscribed to from the app. The app is also unable to support the "first-of-the-month" model, where payments from all subscribers are collected on the first day of the month, rather than every 30 days, since each member's subscription day varies. The price must also be rounded to a price tier supported by Apple.

Patreon allows creators to choose between increasing their prices by 30% in the iOS app or maintaining the same prices, forfeiting 30% to Apple. Creators frequently remind potential supporters not to use the Patreon iOS app, adding extra inconvenience to those wanting to support the work of small creators.

<gallery mode="packed" heights="400px">
File:Patreon iOS app pricing options - fee on top.png|"Maintain earnings and cover Apple's fee by increasing prices in the iOS app" (Recommended)
File:Patreon iOS app pricing options - absorb fee.png|"Keep prices in the iOS app the same and cover Apple's fee yourself."
</gallery>

A similar case occurred with the app Fanhouse in 2021.<ref>{{Cite web |last=@jasminericegirl |date=9 Jun 2021 |title=#fuckapple, a thread I cofounded @fanhouseapp 8 months ago to empower creators to monetize their content. We pay creators 90% of earnings. Now, Apple is threatening to remove Fanhouse from the app store unless we give them 30% of creator earnings. This is theft and exploitation. |url=https://x.com/jasminericegirl/status/1402691047940100100 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://archive.ph/U0qQw |archive-date=7 Jan 2026 |access-date=16 Mar 2025 |website=[[X]]}}</ref>

===Twitter===
In August 2021, [[Twitter]] introduced a feature named Super Follows (now Subscriptions), in which users can pay a subscription fee to access more of a creator's content. For each user who enables Subscriptions, Twitter must submit a new in-app purchase SKU to the App Store, which will become available with the next update to the app.<ref>{{Cite web |last=@wongmjane |date=2 Sep 2021 |title=Each Super Follow is an In-App Purchase on the App Store, but because there are too many IAPs for the Twitter app, the App Store only shows 10 instead of the full list |url=https://x.com/wongmjane/status/1433372120080261120 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://archive.ph/3gqwM |archive-date=7 Jan 2026 |access-date=16 Mar 2025 |website=[[X]]}}</ref> This, of course, is subject to the 30% fee. At the time of writing in January 2025, viewing the App Store listing reveals Elon Musk's $4.00 subscription as the fourth most popular IAP item.

==Notarization==
Since 2015, Apple has required all Mac apps to be "notarized." This is a preliminary, automated malware check, which, upon passing, provides a notary certificate that gets "stapled" to the app. Apple's explanation:

<blockquote>
Notarization of macOS software is not App Review. The Apple notary service is an automated system that scans your software for malicious content, checks for code-signing issues, and returns the results to you quickly. If there are no issues, the notary service generates a ticket for you to staple to your software; the notary service also publishes that ticket online where Gatekeeper can find it.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Notarizing macOS software before distribution |url=https://developer.apple.com/documentation/security/notarizing-macos-software-before-distribution |url-status=live |archive-url=https://archive.ph/H4EO9 |archive-date=26 Nov 2024 |access-date=16 Mar 2025 |website=[[Apple Developer]]}}</ref>
</blockquote>

Whether this approach is actually better than that used by Windows antivirus, which only detects new malware samples when they are already on a user's computer, is a separate topic.

To comply with the DMA's regulations on app marketplaces, Apple created a new channel for releasing apps outside of the iOS App Store. Apps go through a notarization process. But the process is definitely ''not'' notarization. The name is intentionally being abused, by contrast to notarization on macOS, to make you believe it is something other than the existing App Review system. Despite the pain some developers and users have with it, notarization on macOS has always been considered a net positive. It made sense to take advantage of its reputation for the entirely different "notarization" on iOS.

See for yourself - view the [https://developer.apple.com/app-store/review/guidelines/ App Review Guidelines] and tick "Show Notarization Review Guidelines Only". While this eliminates most rules, a significant number of them remain in place. These apps are still reviewed and tested by the App Review team, must have a complete product listing in App Store Connect, and can be outright rejected - all in the same way as an App Store app.

By contrast, all that is required for notarization on macOS is for your app not to be malware. You submit it to an automated system that approves it within minutes. '''You don't need to convince Apple that your app is worthy of existing on their platform.'''

The purpose of macOS notarization is that Apple maintains a record of all binaries intended for wide distribution on macOS, allowing it to review them both in advance and regularly for known malware/common malware patterns. If a malware app manages to get through, when Apple initially finds out, they can go back into the notary records and find every sample of that malware to analyze and block. This is a purely technical process, managed by skilled security researchers. At the same time, iOS app review and "notarization" are business processes managed by workers who have been given a checklist of violations to look for.

Apple is retaining complete control over what's allowed to run on iOS. On macOS, you can choose to run apps that have not been notarized (even though the process to bypass the warning is intentionally difficult). On iOS, you never get even that option. What Apple created is the App Store, but with more steps. It is still available on the App Store, but it is hidden so that it can only be installed through the third-party store it's tied to.

*Mysk: "iOS should enable alternative marketplaces to add their own links when users share their apps. Links still point to the App Store, and if the app is not available there, this happens."<ref>{{Cite web |last=@mysk_co |date=28 Jun 2024 |title=iOS should enable alternative marketplaces to add their own links when users share their apps. Links still point to the App Store and if the app is not available there, this happens: |url=https://x.com/mysk_co/status/1806638308455256242 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://archive.ph/DsQQH |archive-date=7 Jan 2026 |access-date=16 Mar 2025 |website=[[X]]}}</ref>

==JIT==
The following paragraph is highly technical: JIT allows for speedy programs/apps, and due to its fast nature, it's used almost everywhere and represents a massive improvement over older code interpreters.

[[wikipedia:Just-in-time compilation|JIT]], which stands for Just-In-Time, is a method of code execution where code, instead of being compiled before being distributed (like an EXE), gets compiled into machine code in real time right before being executed. This method of code execution allows for much faster website loading times, speedier emulation, faster program execution (with programs written in JavaScript, Python, Lua...) compared to interpreters, which instead translate code into machine code line by line, which is much, much slower; JIT also employs many more optimization techniques meant to improve performance.

Safari is allowed to use JIT to compile code from any site, just like Apple's [https://apps.apple.com/app/swift-playgrounds/id908519492 Playgrounds] app on iPad. Playgrounds bundle Apple's [[wikipedia:Swift (programming language)|Swift]] compiler and share backend code with the version of Playgrounds found in [[wikipedia:Xcode|Xcode]].

Third-party apps, such as Pythonista (a Python IDE), emulators like Delta and UTM, and terminal environments like iSH, are not allowed to use JIT; instead, they must interpret code, which results in severe performance degradation and increased computational expense, potentially draining more battery.

An example of apps being heavily affected by this restriction is UTM. UTM is a port of [[wikipedia:QEMU|QEMU]] for iOS, iPadOS, and macOS, allowing users to create [[wikipedia:Virtual_machine|VMs]] that can run various operating systems, such as Microsoft Windows. The iPhone's hardware is capable enough to emulate various modern OSes at full speed. Still, due to Apple's JIT limitation, the team behind UTM had to create UTM SE (slow edition), which doesn't require JIT but is nowhere near as fast as UTM with JIT, only being capable of running MS-DOS and derivatives at acceptable speeds. While methods that enable JIT for apps other than Safari and Playgrounds exist (some are currently working on iOS 18.5, like [https://apps.apple.com/us/app/stikdebug/id6744045754 StikDebug]), Apple does not allow the use of JIT in notarized apps, meaning that apps that support JIT will have to be sideloaded, which comes with its own set of restrictions.

In the EU, Apple permitted web browsers to use rendering and JavaScript engines other than the built-in with Apple WebKit/JavaScriptCore, with the option for JS engines to use JIT. The browser still needs to be approved by Apple for an entitlement and must then work within the APIs provided by Apple. However, as of January 2025, no browsers using engines different from the built-in ones have been released, primarily due to arbitrarily imposed restrictions intended to discourage the use and development of third-party engines.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Mozilla says Apple’s new browser rules are ‘as painful as possible’ for Firefox |url=https://www.theverge.com/2024/1/26/24052067/mozilla-apple-ios-browser-rules-firefox |url-status=live |archive-url=https://archive.ph/720xn |archive-date=26 Jan 2024 |access-date=16 Mar 2025 |website=[[The Verge]]}}</ref>

However, Apple still does not allow different engines outside of the EU, with or without JIT support.<ref>{{Cite web |title=App Review Guidelines |url=https://developer.apple.com/app-store/review/guidelines/#2.5.6 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://archive.ph/D9fQQ |archive-date=7 Jan 2026 |access-date=16 Mar 2025 |website=[[Apple Developer]]}}</ref>
==In-app browsers==
When apps want to display web content without opening the standalone Safari browser, app developers can use Apple’s [https://developer.apple.com/documentation/webkit/ WebKit] APIs, such as WKWebView. However, due to Apple’s [https://developer.apple.com/documentation/security/app-sandbox application sandboxing] and WebKit’s data-isolation model, web content loaded inside one app does not have access to Safari’s cookies, browsing history, saved sessions, or extensions, nor to data from other apps’ embedded web views. Each app’s embedded browser operates with its own isolated website data store.

As a result, web pages opened inside embedded browsers, such as those used in apps like Facebook, do not appear in Safari’s browsing history, and there is typically no persistent, user-accessible history within the app itself. Users may also be asked to sign in to the same services (for example, during OAuth login flows like Google) because cookies and session data are not shared with Safari. Additionally, Safari extensions, including content blockers, dark-mode tools, and other privacy or accessibility extensions, do not function inside embedded web views.

Apple states App Sandboxing "provides protection to system resources and user data by limiting your app’s access to resources requested through entitlements."<ref>{{Cite web |date=2025-01-12 |title=App Sandbox {{!}} Apple Developer Documentation |url=https://developer.apple.com/documentation/security/app-sandbox |url-status=live |archive-url=https://archive.ph/IkLXF |archive-date=2026-02-20 |access-date=2025-01-12 |website=Apple Developer}}</ref> However, developers have voiced frustration with how WebKit is sandboxed which can result in degraded user experiences, such as with repeated OAuth login flows between apps.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2025-01-12 |title=Impact of iOS 11 no longer providing shared cookies between Safari, Safari View Controller instances |url=https://github.com/openid/AppAuth-iOS/issues/120 |url-status=live |access-date=2025-01-12 |website=GitHub |archive-url=http://web.archive.org/web/20251113172345/https://github.com/openid/AppAuth-iOS/issues/120 |archive-date=13 Nov 2025}}</ref> Some developers have found workarounds for sharing information with the native Safari app, but it is unknown whether these methods still function in modern versions Apple's various operating systems.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Storey |first=Leon |date=2025-01-12 |title=Does WKWebView uses cookies from Safari? |url=https://stackoverflow.com/a/41486576 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20260218231045/https://stackoverflow.com/questions/40148060/does-wkwebview-uses-cookies-from-safari |archive-date=2026-02-18 |access-date=2025-01-12 |website=StackOverflow}}</ref>

==See also==
*[https://theapplewiki.com/wiki/Eligibility Eligibility]
*Posts written by the author of this article:
**[https://adamdemasi.com/2024/04/19/app-marketplace-experience.html The iOS 17.4 app marketplace flow is a disaster] ([https://web.archive.org/web/20251112051617/https://adamdemasi.com/2024/04/19/app-marketplace-experience.html Archived] 2025-11-12)
**[https://adamdemasi.com/2024/04/20/ios-eligibility.html How I tricked iOS into giving me EU DMA features] ([https://web.archive.org/web/20260112053403/https://adamdemasi.com/2024/04/20/ios-eligibility.html Archived] 2026-01-12)
**[https://adamdemasi.com/2024/04/23/ios-eligibility-features.html Features controlled by iOS 17.4's eligibility system] ([https://web.archive.org/web/20260112053400/https://adamdemasi.com/2024/04/23/ios-eligibility-features.html Archived] 2026-01-12)

==References==
<references />

[[Category:Apple App Store]]

2026-02-22T14:42:22Z

CopyeditorHF: Adding a comment to respond to another comment about a section I recently edited.

{{ToneWarning}}
{{CompanyCargo
|Description=American instant messaging app used globally.
|Founded=2009
|Industry=Social Media, Messaging
|Logo=WhatsApp Logo green.svg
|ParentCompany=Meta
|Type=Subsidiary
|Website=https://www.whatsapp.com/
}}
'''{{Wplink|WhatsApp}}''' (officially '''WhatsApp Messenger''') is an American instant messaging (IM) and {{Wplink|Voice over IP|voice-over-IP}} (VoIP) service owned by technology conglomerate [[Meta]].

==Consumer impact summary==
{{Ph-C-CIS}}
'''User privacy:''' Collects and shares meta data, while competing apps intentionally collect less to avoid incursions on their users' privacy.<ref>{{Cite web |last1=Elkind |first1=Peter |last2=Gillum |first2=Jack |last3=Silverman |first3=Craig |title=How Facebook Undermines Privacy Protections for Its 2 Billion WhatsApp Users |url=https://www.propublica.org/article/how-facebook-undermines-privacy-protections-for-its-2-billion-whatsapp-users |website=ProPublica |date=7 Sep 2021 |access-date=6 Mar 2025 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210907090516/https://www.propublica.org/article/how-facebook-undermines-privacy-protections-for-its-2-billion-whatsapp-users |archive-date=7 Sep 2021}}</ref>

'''Market control:''' The combination of [[Facebook]], WhatsApp, and [[Instagram]], all owned by Meta, serves billions of active users.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Dixon |first=Stacy Jo |title=Most popular social networks worldwide as of April 2024, by number of monthly active users |url=https://www.statista.com/statistics/272014/global-social-networks-ranked-by-number-of-users/ |website=Statista |date=10 Jul 2024 |access-date=6 Mar 2025 |archive-url=https://archive.ph/wmIXV |archive-date=26 Aug 2024 |quote=''[...] Meta Platforms owns four of the biggest social media platforms, all with more than one billion monthly active users each: Facebook (core platform), WhatsApp, Facebook Messenger, and Instagram.''}}</ref>

==Incidents==
This is a list of all consumer protection incidents in which this company is involved. Any incidents not mentioned here can be found in the [[:Category:WhatsApp messenger|{{PAGENAME}} category]].

===Data lock-in===
[[File:WhatsApp suspended account hostage screen.png|thumb|upright|WhatsApp suspended account hostage screen]]
There are several instances of [[data lock-in]] in WhatsApp. For example, if WhatsApp staff suspends an account, the user is unable to access any messages stored on their device, unless they successfully appeal their suspension. This means WhatsApp staff has greater access to some of the data stored on devices of WhatsApp users than the device owners themselves. Such practices function similarly to {{Wplink|ransomware}}, a type of malware attack in which a user in unable to access some or all of their data on a device until a ransom is paid.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Gopal |first=Prarthana |title=How to fix the WhatsApp 'This account is not allowed to use WhatsApp' error |url=https://www.androidpolice.com/whatsapp-this-account-is-not-allowed-to-use-whatsapp-error-fix/ |website=Android Police |date=11 May 2024 |access-date=17 Feb 2026 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://archive.ph/e8bY9 |archive-date=11 Feb 2026}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Bhatacharjee |first=Sayani |title=How to Unban From WhatsApp Quickly and Regain Access (2024) |url=https://retainiq.io/blog/how-to-unban-from-whatsapp-quickly/ |website=RetainIQ |date=16 Sep 2024 |access-date=17 Feb 2026 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20241007151808/https://retainiq.io/blog/how-to-unban-from-whatsapp-quickly/ |archive-date=7 Oct 2024}}</ref>

Users are also unable access to their messaging history if they do not run a recent version. This means that users cannot read existing messages until an update has been completed. There are situations where users may not be able to update. These include being at a remote location with limited Internet access, exhaustion of one's mobile data plan, and having an older device where updating is not possible anymore because its operating system is no longer supported by a recent version of WhatsApp.

If a WhatsApp user has not used the service for four months, they are required to repeat the registration process before being able to access to their message history.<ref>{{Cite web |author=
|title=Seeing “You have been logged out” |url=https://faq.whatsapp.com/120604060995491 |website=WhatsApp |date= |access-date=17 Feb 2026 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://archive.is/0KH2m |archive-date=11 Feb 2026}}</ref> In addition, changing one's phone number means losing access to all existing messages that were not backed up in advance.

WhatsApp also lets the user back up their messages to their [[Google]] account, but they are stored in a way they can only be accessed from WhatsApp, not externally.<ref name="TechCrunch-20220809">{{Cite web |last=Hatmaker |first=Taylor |title=WhatsApp is adding new privacy options, including screenshot blocking and a stealth mode |url=https://techcrunch.com/2022/08/09/whatsapp-privacy-presence-control-screenshot-blocking/ |website=TechCrunch |date=9 Aug 2022 |access-date=17 Feb 2026 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://archive.is/iwDVH |archive-date=9 Aug 2022}}</ref>

WhatsApp provides a chat exporting feature which allows to export the entire chat history as a text file, optionally including media attachments, into a ZIP file. However, there is no way to export all messages at once. It has to be done for every contact and every group individually. Additionally, starting with an April 2025 update, exporting can be remotely disabled by the other participant through the "Advanced Chat Privacy" feature.

There are legitimate reasons for exporting chats, such as creating backups in a human-readable and non-proprietary format, preempting erroneous account terminations<ref>{{Cite web |last=Voit
|first=Karl |title=You Can't Control Your Data in the Cloud |url=https://karl-voit.at/cloud/ |website=public voit |date=12 Nov 2016 |access-date=17 Feb 2026 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20260202071758/https://karl-voit.at/cloud/ |archive-date=2 Feb 2026}}</ref>, searching using external tools, and preserving good memories with people, including those of deceased individuals.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Sheeran |first=Ed |title=Ed Sheeran - Old Phone (Official Music Video) |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rj5dxoMY-dE |website=[[YouTube]] |date=8 May 2025 |access-date=17 Feb 2025 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://preservetube.com/watch?v=rj5dxoMY-dE |archive-date=5 Sep 2025}}</ref>

The developers of WhatsApp have threatened to block [[screenshot blocking|screenshots]] inside chats with "advanced chat privacy" enabled:<ref>{{Cite web |last=Baran |first=Guru |title=WhatsApp’s New Advanced Chat Privacy Feature to Protect Sensitive Conversations |url=https://cybersecuritynews.com/whatsapp-advanced-chat-privacy-feature/ |website=Cyber Security News |date=24 Apr 2025 |access-date=17 Feb 2026 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://archive.ph/l0Byj |archive-date=7 Jul 2025}}</ref>
<blockquote>The company has stated that this is the first iteration of the feature, with plans to introduce even more robust protections in future updates, potentially including measures to block screenshots.
</blockquote>

==Mandatory updates==
WhatsApp requires users to use updated versions of the app by first giving them an in-app warning if they have not updated for a while. If the user still chooses not to update, usage of the app will be disabled entirely.{{Citation needed|reason=How long before this happens? Any screenshots?}} This can pose problems in certain cases, such as being in an area with poor or limited internet connectivity or using an older device that is no longer supported.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Coyle |first=Dylan R. |title=WhatsApp drops support for Android KitKat |url=https://www.androidpolice.com/whatsapp-support-android-kitkat/ |website=Android Police |date=24 Oct 2023 |access-date=17 Feb 2026 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231025193121/https://www.androidpolice.com/whatsapp-support-android-kitkat/ |archive-date=25 Oct 2023}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |author=Ro |title=WhatsApp to drop support for older Android devices on January 1, 2025 |url=https://www.gsmarena.com/whatsapp_to_drop_support_for_older_android_devices_on_january_1_2025-news-65834.php |website=GSMArena |date=22 Dec 2024 |access-date=17 Feb 2026 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://archive.ph/z9lWS |archive-date=11 Nov 2025}}</ref> 

===Message deletion and editing (''2017—'')===
Since late 2017, WhatsApp allows message senders delete messages for a limited duration after sending.<ref>{{Cite web |author=Himanshu |title=WhatsApp gets ability to delete messages |url=https://www.gsmarena.com/whatsapp_gets_ability_to_delete_messages-news-27955.php |website=GMSArena |date=27 Oct 2017 |access-date=17 Feb 2026 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180318124926/https://www.gsmarena.com/whatsapp_gets_ability_to_delete_messages-news-27955.php |archive-date=18 Mar 2018}}</ref> This time limit was extended, to slightly over an hour in 2018<ref>{{Cite web |author=Ricky |title=WhatsApp time limit for deleting messages increases to over an hour |url=https://www.gsmarena.com/whatsapp_time_limit_for_deleting_messages_increases_to_over_an_hour-news-30053.php |website=GSMArena |date=12 Mar 2018 |access-date=17 Feb 2026 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180313043109/https://www.gsmarena.com/whatsapp_time_limit_for_deleting_messages_increases_to_over_an_hour-news-30053.php |archive-date=13 Mar 2018}}</ref> and two and a half days in 2022.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Mehta |first=Ivan |title=WhatsApp extends time limit to delete a message to 60 hours |url=https://techcrunch.com/2022/08/09/whatsapp-extends-time-limit-to-delete-a-message-to-60-hours/ |website=TechCrunch |date=9 Aug 2022 |access-date=17 Feb 2026 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://archive.is/QRiLZ |archive-date=17 Feb 2026}}</ref> While there is a message noting that "This message was deleted," it is not possible to see what was contained in the message.

Additionally, since 2023, WhatsApp lets message senders edit messages for up to fifteen minutes after sending. When a message is edited by the sender, while it is noted the message has been edited, the recipient can no longer see the original message.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Schroeder |first=Stan |title=WhatsApp finally lets you edit messages, but you have to be fast |url=https://mashable.com/article/whatsapp-edit-messages-feature |website=Mashable |date=23 May 2023 |access-date=17 Feb 2026 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230523172541/https://mashable.com/article/whatsapp-edit-messages-feature |archive-date=23 May 2023}}</ref>

In effect, this WhatsApp feature allows the sender to remotely delete or edit existing information on the recipient's device without the consent of the recipient.


===Privacy policy update (''2021'')===
{{Main|WhatsApp updates privacy policy and millions of users flee the platform}}

There was widespread backlash over an upcoming privacy policy update related to the data-sharing procedures with Facebook. It outlined how businesses that use WhatsApp for customer service may store logs of their chats on Facebook servers.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Statt |first=Nick |title=WhatsApp clarifies it’s not giving all your data to Facebook after surge in Signal and Telegram users |url=https://www.theverge.com/2021/1/12/22226792/whatsapp-privacy-policy-response-signal-telegram-controversy-clarification |website=The Verge |date=12 Jan 2021 |access-date=6 Mar 2025 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210112161057/https://www.theverge.com/2021/1/12/22226792/whatsapp-privacy-policy-response-signal-telegram-controversy-clarification |archive-date=12 Jan 2021}}</ref> The update sparked a broader concern, prompting millions of users to abandon the platform.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Hern |first=Alex |title=WhatsApp loses millions of users after terms update |url=https://www.theguardian.com/technology/2021/jan/24/whatsapp-loses-millions-of-users-after-terms-update |website=The Guardian |date=24 Jan 2021 |access-date=6 Mar 2025 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210124165416/https://www.theguardian.com/technology/2021/jan/24/whatsapp-loses-millions-of-users-after-terms-update |archive-date=24 Jan 2021}}</ref>

===Disappearing messages (2021-2022)===
WhatsApp also introduced "view-once" messages in 2021 and disabled screen captures of them in 2022. "View-once" messages are deleted after being viewed.<ref name="TechCrunch-20220809" />

===Disabling screen captures of profile pictures (''2024—'')===
In March 2024, WhatsApp started disabling screen captures of profile pictures viewed in full screen to "protect the privacy" of its users. This made possible because mainstream mobile operating systems, [[Android]] and [[iOS]], let applications disable screen capturing on devices without the consent of the of device owners.<ref>{{Cite web |author= |title=About profile photo screenshot blocking |url=https://faq.whatsapp.com/1799783917198636 |website=WhatsApp |date= |access-date=17 Feb 2026 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://archive.ph/NfBAa |archive-date=22 Dec 2024}}</ref>

Profile pictures are not mandatory to use WhatsApp and are therefore images that a user has voluntarily made accessible on their profiles. As such, profile pictures are not private images.

===Introduction of advertising (''2025'')===
In June 2025, Meta announced that personalized ads would be introduced globally on WhatsApp.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Scharon|first=Harding |title=Ads are “rolling out gradually” to WhatsApp
|url=https://arstechnica.com/gadgets/2025/06/ads-are-rolling-out-gradually-to-whatsapp/ |website=Ars Technica |date=16 Jun 2025 |access-date=18 Jun 2025 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250616190958/https://arstechnica.com/gadgets/2025/06/ads-are-rolling-out-gradually-to-whatsapp/ |archive-date=16 Jun 2025}}</ref> Previously, Meta (then known as Facebook) stated in 2014, after it acquired the application:
<blockquote>''("[...] And you can still count on absolutely no ads interrupting your communication.")''.<ref>{{Cite web |author= |title=Facebook |url=https://blog.whatsapp.com/facebook |website=WhatsApp |date=19 Feb 2014 |access-date=18 Jun 2025 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250806121407/https://blog.whatsapp.com/facebook |archive-date=6 Aug 2025}}</ref></blockquote>

The personalized ads also utilize data from linked accounts on other Meta platforms.<ref>{{Cite web |author= |title=Helping You Find More Channels and Businesses on WhatsApp |url=https://about.fb.com/news/2025/06/helping-you-find-more-channels-businesses-on-whatsapp/ |website=[[Meta]] |date=16 Jun 2025 |access-date=17 Feb 2026 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://archive.ph/vErdo |archive-date=19 Jun 2025}}</ref>

==Alternatives==
*[https://www.signal.org Signal] offers most of the same features, and while [[Signal data collection|not without some issues]], the app is open source, relies on Privacy by Design, and is operated by a non-profit.

*[https://matrix.org/ Matrix] is more private and uses a federated design, but setup is slightly more involved than that of a commercial messenger.

*[https://telegram.org/ Telegram] is the most popular alternative and is end-user-friendly, with minimal content moderation. Prior to a September 2024 policy change, it refused to hand over user data to law enforcement upon request.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Jamali |first=Lily |title=Telegram will now provide some user data to authorities |url=https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/cvglp0xny3eo |website=BBC |date=23 Sep 2024 |access-date=22 Jul 2025 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240923225048/https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/cvglp0xny3eo |archive-date=23 Sep 2024}}</ref>

==References==
{{Reflist}}

[[Category:WhatsApp messenger]]

Apple App Store

2026-02-21T20:42:59Z

CopyeditorHF: Tonal edits. Rewording for a more neutral, factual tone, as well as clarification of ambiguous wording.

{{ToneWarning}}
{{ProductCargo
|ArticleType=Service
|Category=Software marketplace
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|Description=Software marketplace for official Apple products
|InProduction=Yes
|Logo=App Store (iOS).svg
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|ReleaseYear=2008
|Website=https://www.apple.com/app-store/
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'''[[Apple]]''' uses a range of technical measures to maintain control over the App Store ecosystem. While Apple cites security and user-friendliness as the reasoning behind these measures, they often create roadblocks for users as well as app developers. Some of the methods Apple uses to control its ecosystem hinders lawmakers' ability to advocate for the rights of consumers and businesses within Apple's ecosystem and prevents apps from being as useful and free as their customers expect.

Although there are supported iOS application installation source alternatives such as [https://altstore.io/ Altstore], they are not commonly used or known, which gives Apple a practical monopoly over iOS users and iOS app developers.

Apple has made claims that they are unaware about the profitability of the App Store<ref>{{Cite web |last=Lovejoy |first=Ben |date=17 Apr 2024 |title=Schiller doesn’t know whether the App Store is profitable; there are no minutes of meetings |url=https://9to5mac.com/2024/04/17/app-store-is-profitable-apple-notes/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://archive.ph/AinvZ |archive-date=7 Jan 2026 |access-date=16 Mar 2025 |website=[[9to5Mac]]}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Lovejoy |first=Ben |date=17 Jan 2025 |title=Apple denies App Store profit margin is 75% – claims to have no clue |url=https://9to5mac.com/2025/01/17/apple-denies-app-store-profit-margin-is-75-claims-to-have-no-clue/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://archive.ph/Df7hl |archive-date=7 Jan 2026 |access-date=16 Mar 2025 |website=[[9t05Mac]]}}</ref> but takes fees of up to 30% on digital product sales and subscriptions,<ref>{{Cite web |last=Mehta |first=Tushar |date=2025-05-06 |title=Apple cuts App Store fees, but experts urge caution against new U.S. pricing guidelines |url=https://www.digitaltrends.com/phones/what-experts-say-about-apple-app-store-pricing-changes/ |access-date=2026-02-20 |website=digitaltrends}}</ref> ranging from game currency to supporting content creators<ref name="patreon">{{Cite web |last=Roth |first=Emma |date=12 Aug 2024 |title=Patreon: adding Apple’s 30 percent tax is the price of staying in the App Store |url=https://www.theverge.com/2024/8/12/24218629/patreon-membership-ios-30-percent-apple-tax |url-status=live |archive-url=https://archive.ph/Vi9cV |archive-date=13 Nov 2024 |access-date=16 Mar 2025 |website=[[The Verge]]}}</ref> to booking a Zoom call with a local business.<ref name="facebook">{{Cite web |last=Paul |first=Katie |last2=Nellis |first2=Stephen |date=28 Aug 2020 |title=Exclusive: Facebook says Apple rejected its attempt to tell users about App Store fees |url=https://www.reuters.com/article/us-facebook-apple-exclusive/exclusive-facebook-says-apple-rejected-its-attempt-to-tell-users-about-app-store-fees-idUSKBN25O042/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://archive.ph/9CJDN |archive-date=7 Jan 2026 |access-date=16 Mar 2025 |website=[[Reuters]]}}</ref> Some argue that these fees hinder iOS app developers from innovating because this money cannot be used to further improve their applications.{{Citation needed}} There are groups in support of developers who are experiencing difficulties in continuing development due to Apple (and [[Google]]'s) fees of between 15% and 30% of all revenue. These groups deny the notion that Apple and Google require the money generated by the app more than the developer.{{Citation needed}} These fees also push app developers to increase prices to maximize profits, which increases the prices for end users.

Because of this, several governments including South Korea,<ref>{{Cite web |date=8 Mar 2022 |title=South Korea approves rules on app store law targeting Apple, Google |url=https://www.reuters.com/technology/skorea-approves-rules-app-store-law-targeting-apple-google-2022-03-08/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://archive.ph/q1VQW |archive-date=11 Jan 2023 |access-date=16 Mar 2025 |website=[[Reuters]]}}</ref> Japan,<ref>{{Cite web |last=Sharwood |first=Simon |date=13 Jun 2024 |title=Japan forces Apple and Google to allow third-party app stores and payments |url=https://www.theregister.com/2024/06/13/japan_smartphone_software_law/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://archive.ph/Jj9BI |archive-date=13 Jun 2024 |access-date=16 Mar 2025 |website=[[The Register]]}}</ref> the European Union,<ref>[[wikipedia:Digital Markets Act|Digital Markets Act]]</ref> the United Kingdom,<ref>{{Cite web |last=Competition and Markets Authority |date=4 Mar 2021 |title=Investigation into Apple AppStore |url=https://www.gov.uk/cma-cases/investigation-into-apple-appstore |url-status=live |archive-url=https://archive.ph/uZ7A5 |archive-date=7 Jan 2026 |access-date=16 Mar 2025 |website=[[gov.uk]]}}</ref> Australia,<ref>{{Cite web |date=28 Apr 2021 |title=Dominance of Apple and Google's app stores impacting competition and consumers |url=https://www.accc.gov.au/media-release/dominance-of-apple-and-googles-app-stores-impacting-competition-and-consumers |url-status=live |archive-url=https://archive.ph/Bw3gv |archive-date=7 Jan 2026 |access-date=16 Mar 2025 |website=[[ACCC]]}}</ref> as well as the US and a handful of US States<ref>[[wikipedia:Open App Markets Act|Open App Markets Act]]</ref><ref>{{Cite web |date=20 Nov 2024 |title=S.5364 - App Store Accountability Act |url=https://www.congress.gov/bill/118th-congress/senate-bill/5364/text/is |url-status=live |archive-url=https://archive.ph/7yPxE |archive-date=7 Jan 2026 |access-date=16 Mar 2025 |website=[[congress.gov]]}}</ref><ref name="doj">{{Cite web |last=Balsamo |first=Mike |last2=Liedtke |first2=Mike |last3=Whitehurst |first3=Lindsay |last4=Bajak |first4=Frank |date=21 Mar 2024 |title=Justice Department sues Apple, alleging it illegally monopolized the smartphone market |url=https://apnews.com/article/apple-antitrust-monopoly-app-store-justice-department-822d7e8f5cf53a2636795fcc33ee1fc3 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://archive.ph/BB4Zn |archive-date=21 Mar 2024 |access-date=16 Mar 2025 |website=[[APNews]]}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |date=19 Feb 2021 |title=It’s time to free ourselves from ‘Big Tech’ monopoly |url=https://azcapitoltimes.com/news/2021/02/19/its-time-to-free-ourselves-from-big-tech-monopoly/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://archive.ph/bLDwu |archive-date=23 Feb 2021 |access-date=16 Mar 2025 |website=[[Arizona Capitol Times]]}}</ref> have opened investigations into anti-competitive practices as well as have considered or passed legislation to require "gatekeeper platforms" such as Apple to be more reasonable with third-party developers.

In response to such legislative measures, Apple has instituted geo-blocking operating system functionality based on physical location,<ref>{{Cite web |title=Eligibility |url=https://theapplewiki.com/wiki/Eligibility |url-status=live |archive-url=https://archive.ph/Df7hl |archive-date=7 Jan 2026 |access-date=16 Mar 2025 |website=[[The Apple Wiki]]}}</ref> misrepresenting/overstating risks, and using careful wording with commonly understood terms to describe unreasonably difficult-to-use systems.{{Citation needed}}

Unlike traditional software license purchases, Apple's App Store terms tie the license to a specific account, making it impossible for users to resell their licenses secondhand, buy apps secondhand, or inherit a license from a relative.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2014-02-10 |title=I can sell my apps? |url=https://discussions.apple.com/thread/5888894 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://archive.ph/DelOf |archive-date=7 Jan 2026 |access-date=2025-11-25 |website=Apple Community}}</ref> This system has since been copied by numerous other players in the media and digital goods sector.

==Background info==
Important terms in this article:

*'''[[wikipedia:Sandbox (computer security)|Sandbox]]''': Reduces the user's device/data exposure to security risks by reducing what an app is allowed to do.
*'''[https://theapplewiki.com/wiki/Entitlements Entitlements]''': Apple's method of "poking holes" in the sandbox to give the app more permissions. Some are available to developers, while many are only available to Apple.
*'''[[wikipedia:Digital Markets Act|Digital Markets Act]]''': The European Union's recent regulations targeted at large "Big Tech" companies, classified as "Gatekeepers," and aimed at creating a more fair level of competition in digital markets, particularly for small or emerging companies.

==In-app purchases==
Apple has been collecting users' credit card numbers since launching the iTunes Store in 2004. The launch of the App Store in 2008, followed by the introduction of in-app purchases (IAPs) in 2009, allowed iPhone app developers to sell app features to users. The IAP system is provided as a developer framework named [https://developer.apple.com/storekit/ StoreKit]. Apps and their in-app purchases are managed through a dashboard named [https://developer.apple.com/app-store-connect/ App Store Connect]. App sales have eclipsed iTunes Store sales and are now a primary focus of Apple's Media Services division. Apple requires that any purchase of a digital good or service within an app use its in-app purchase system.

App Store purchase fees range from 15% to 30%. In September 2016, Apple expanded subscriptions to be available for any type of app, also introducing a 15% discount incentive for users who had already subscribed for a year.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Goode |first=Lauren |date=2 Sep 2016 |title=Apple’s new subscription offerings are now available to App Store developers |url=https://www.theverge.com/2016/9/2/12774758/apple-developers-app-store-new-subscription-rules |url-status=live |archive-url=https://archive.ph/KmJCn |archive-date=7 Jan 202 |access-date=16 Mar 2025 |website=[[The Verge]]}}</ref> In November 2020, Apple introduced a reduced 15% fee for app developers with annual revenue below $1 million.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Centers |first=Josh |date=18 Nov 2020 |title=Apple Drops App Store Commission to 15% for Small Developers |url=https://tidbits.com/2020/11/18/apple-drops-app-store-commission-to-15-for-small-developers/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://archive.ph/tt8Hs |archive-date=7 Jan 2026 |access-date=16 Mar 2025 |website=[[TidBITS]]}}</ref> For developers above this threshold, and for cases excluded from this program, such as for games, the fee is 30%. In the 2008 announcement of the App Store, Apple considered this a reasonable, industry-standard fee. However, the way we use apps has significantly evolved since 2009 - the world has shifted to heavily depend upon mobile apps, which have also evolved into more complex and sustainable business models than a simple one-time purchase.

[[wikipedia:Stripe, Inc.|Stripe]], a popular platform used for payments on the web, uses a base fee of 2.9% plus a fixed $0.30 in the United States.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Pricing |url=https://stripe.com/it/pricing |url-status=live |archive-url=https://archive.ph/FoCG4 |archive-date=7 Jan 2026 |access-date=16 Mar 2025 |website=[[Stripe]]}}</ref> With add-on services, before considering volume discounts, a Stripe transaction may have a cost of 6.4% + $1.10.<ref>Calculated from base fee (2.9% + $0.30) + international card (1.5%) + adaptive pricing (2%) + international payment methods ($0.80), as of January 2025</ref> Stripe has been used by businesses ranging from small online stores to [[OpenAI]] for ChatGPT Plus. Competing payment services have similar or identical fees to Stripe. '''The in-app purchase system does not provide sufficient value to justify the considerably higher costs compared to alternative payment platforms.'''

The App Store system poorly handles secondary marketplaces of digital services that exist within the primary App Store marketplace, such as Patreon. Apple requires companies selling digital services to use this inadequate system, in which app developers must account for Apple's fee, which is significant enough to warrant price increases, and to follow rules even if they do not align with the nature of the service being provided. This has led to disputes between Apple and app developers and injects complications at no benefit to the marketplace, the developers, or the end users. The main beneficiary of this system is Apple, which has little to no involvement after delivering the initial app download to the user's phone. The significant fee also often drives app developers to consider building their app around an advertising model instead, creating privacy concerns.

Additionally, the 15% small business fee discount is determined based on the app's overall turnover and is not applied to individual creators within the app's marketplace. An app that generates over $1 million per year by providing services to creators who individually earn less than $1 million per year does not qualify for the discount.

Apple, often in conjunction with Google, engages in lobbying efforts in the United States and other countries to address these issues. "ACT | The App Association", pitched as an association of independent small business app developers, is at least 50% funded by Apple, and does not list its claimed 2,000 members.<ref>{{Cite web |date=1 Oct 2021 |title=Not a class ACT: the so-called App Association is simply an Apple Association and does NOT represent app developers' interests in fair distribution terms |url=https://www.fosspatents.com/2021/10/not-class-act-so-called-app-association.html |url-status=live |archive-url=https://archive.ph/eyn0i |archive-date=7 Jan 2026 |access-date=16 Mar 2025 |website=[[FOSS Patents]]}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |date=19 Sep 2022 |title=Vast majority of ACT {{!}} The App Association's funding comes from Apple, former employees tell Bloomberg: astroturfing against app developers' interests |url=https://www.fosspatents.com/2022/09/vast-majority-of-act-app-associations.html |url-status=live |archive-url=https://archive.ph/eGRNV |archive-date=7 Jan 2026 |access-date=16 Mar 2025 |website=[[FOSS Patents]]}}</ref> In March 2024, the United States Department of Justice, along with 16 state attorneys general, filed a lawsuit against Apple, alleging that the company "extracts more money from consumers, developers, content creators, artists, publishers, small businesses, and merchants, among others."<ref name="doj" /> The future of this lawsuit is unclear as of April 2025.

Despite criticism of Apple imposing its fee on transactions with small businesses and creators on platforms such as [[#Patreon|Patreon]] and [[#Facebook online events|Facebook]], on January 23, 2025, Apple announced the Advanced Commerce API. It "support[s] developers' evolving business models - such as extensive content catalogs, creator experiences, and subscriptions with optional add-ons."<ref>{{Cite web |date=23 Jan 2025 |title=Introducing the Advanced Commerce API |url=https://developer.apple.com/news/?id=yxy958ya |url-status=live |archive-url=https://archive.ph/KEH8h |archive-date=23 Jan 2025 |access-date=16 Mar 2025 |website=[[Apple Developer]]}}</ref> While positioned as a way for such businesses to save development time and avoid ongoing costs by building on top of Apple's established payments platform, its use is necessary for these businesses to comply with the App Store guidelines, as seen in the cases outlined below. The feature requires submitting a description of the app's business model to Apple for approval. In this case, Apple is not acting as a platform for digital services but a gatekeeper of who is and is not allowed to conduct business in the digital market.

===Epic Games===
{{hatnote|See also: [[wikipedia:Epic Games v. Apple|Epic Games v. Apple]] and [[wikipedia:Epic Games v. Google|Epic Games v. Google]]}}

[[Epic Games, Inc.]] is a video game developer and publisher, known for games such as [[Fortnite]] and [[Unreal Tournament]], the [[Unreal Engine]], and the [[Epic Games Store]].

In 2018, Epic Games launched Fortnite on the iOS and Android platforms. The company made the unusual decision not to release the app on the [[Google Play Store]] - instead, it was made available as a standalone [[wikipedia:apk (file format)|Android app package]] file (.apk), which must be installed by following a series of manual steps.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Statt |first=Nick |date=3 Aug 2018 |title=Fortnite for Android will ditch Google Play Store for Epic’s website |url=https://www.theverge.com/2018/8/3/17645982/epic-games-fortnite-android-version-bypass-google-play-store |url-status=live |archive-url=https://archive.ph/yTQLj |archive-date=16 Mar 2021 |access-date=1 May 2025 |website=[[The Verge]]}}</ref> The app was also released on the [[Samsung]] [[Samsung Galaxy Store|Galaxy Store]]. Google offered Epic Games a $147 million deal to release Fortnite on the Play Store, which the company declined.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Robertson |first=Adi |date=9 Nov 2023 |title=Google offered Epic $147 million to launch Fortnite on the Play Store |url=https://www.theverge.com/2023/11/8/23953262/google-epic-fortnite-play-store-investment-antitrust-trial |url-status=live |archive-url=https://archive.ph/poKzi |archive-date=9 Nov 2023 |access-date=1 May 2025 |website=[[The Verge]]}}</ref>

On 22 April 2020, Fortnite was finally released on the Play Store.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Carpenter |first=Nicole |date=22 April 2020 |title=Fortnite available on the Google Play Store for the first time |url=https://www.polygon.com/2020/4/21/21229930/fortnite-available-on-google-play-android-mobile-devices |url-status=live |archive-url=https://archive.ph/Z0huU |archive-date=13 Aug 2020 |access-date=1 May 2025 |website=[[Polygon]]}}</ref> In a statement, the company explained:

<blockquote>
After 18 months of operating Fortnite on Android outside of the Google Play Store, we've come to a basic realization: Google puts software downloadable outside of Google Play at a disadvantage, through technical and business measures such as scary, repetitive security pop-ups for downloaded and updated software, restrictive manufacturer and carrier agreements and dealings, Google public relations characterizing third party software sources as malware, and new efforts such as Google Play Protect to outright block software obtained outside the Google Play store.
</blockquote>

On 13 August 2020, Epic Games launched a campaign against both Apple and Google's app store business practices. The company released app updates on both platforms, introducing a method for purchasing V-Bucks, in-game currency, at a 20% discount by directly transacting with Epic Games, against the developer rules of both platforms. The platforms responded by removing the game from their storefronts. Epic Games then filed civil antitrust lawsuits against both companies in the Northern District of California.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Statt |first=Nick |date=14 Aug 2020 |title=Epic Games is suing Apple |url=https://www.theverge.com/2020/8/13/21367963/epic-fortnite-legal-complaint-apple-ios-app-store-removal-injunctive-relief |url-status=live |archive-url=https://archive.ph/vfFgU |archive-date=14 Aug 2020 |access-date=1 May 2025 |website=[[The Verge]]}}</ref> The campaign, branded "Free Fortnite", was later extended with lawsuits and complaints in Australia,<ref>{{Cite web |date=18 Nov 2020 |title=Epic Games extends its fight against Apple to Australia |url=https://www.epicgames.com/site/en-US/freefortnite-australia-press-release |url-status=live |access-date=16 Mar 2025 |website=[[Epic Games]] |archive-url=http://web.archive.org/web/20251219044545/https://www.epicgames.com/site/en-US/freefortnite-australia-press-release |archive-date=19 Dec 2025}}</ref> the European Union,<ref>{{Cite web |date=17 Feb 2021 |title=Epic Game Files EU Antitrust Complaint Against Apple |url=https://www.epicgames.com/site/en-US/news/epic-games-files-eu-antitrust-complaint-against-apple |url-status=live |archive-url=https://archive.ph/0Nqn7 |archive-date=26 May 2025 |access-date=16 Mar 2025 |website=[[Epic Games]]}}</ref> and the United Kingdom.<ref>{{Cite web |date=30 Mar 2021 |title=Epic Games files complaint to support CMA Apple investigation |url=https://www.epicgames.com/site/en-US/news/epic-games-files-complaint-to-support-cma-apple-investigation |url-status=live |archive-url=https://archive.ph/FMiCR |archive-date=7 Jan 2026 |access-date=16 Mar 2025 |website=[[Epic Games]]}}</ref>

On September 11, 2021, Judge Yvonne Gonzalez Rogers decided the case. While the lawsuit against Apple failed on nine of the ten counts, Rogers ruled against Apple's use of "anti-steering" - its strategy of preventing users from being "steered" to a third-party storefront for payment processing - and placed a permanent injunction on this behavior.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Brandon |first=Russell |date=11 Sep 2021 |title=Apple must allow other forms of in-app purchase, rules judge in Epic v. Apple |url=https://www.theverge.com/2021/9/10/22662320/epic-apple-ruling-injunction-judge-court-app-store |url-status=live |archive-url=https://archive.ph/gf9tJ |archive-date=10 Sep 2021 |access-date=1 May 2025 |website=[[The Verge]]}}</ref> Despite the case mostly failing, the discovery process provided significant insight into Apple's decision-making process regarding App Store policies, including decisions made in major app review disputes. In one case, executive Phil Schiller argued for reducing the fee by 30%.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Gurman |first=Mark |date=4 May 2021 |title=Apple’s Schiller Floated Cutting App Store Fees a Decade Ago |url=https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2021-05-03/apple-s-schiller-floated-cutting-app-store-fees-a-decade-ago |url-status=live |archive-url=https://archive.ph/R7Zus |archive-date=7 Jan 2026 |access-date=1 May 2025 |website=[[Bloomberg]]}}</ref>

Epic Games and Apple both appealed the decision. 35 state attorneys-general, the [[Electronic Frontier Foundation]] (EFF), [[Microsoft]], among others, filed amicus briefs in support of Epic Games.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Peters |first=Jay |date=29 Jan 2022 |title=Epic largely lost to Apple, but 35 states are now backing its fight in a higher court |url=https://www.theverge.com/2022/1/28/22907106/epic-games-v-apple-amicus-briefs-states-eff-microsoft-appeal |url-status=live |archive-url=https://archive.ph/P0TZY |archive-date=7 Jan 2026 |access-date=1 May 2025 |website=[[The Verge]]}}</ref>

On 11 December 2023, the jury in the case against Google decided on all 11 counts in favor of Epic Games.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Bensinger |first=Greg |last2=Scarcella |first2=Mike |date=13 Dec 2023 |title=Epic Games wins antitrust case against Google over Play app store |url=https://www.reuters.com/legal/google-epic-games-face-off-app-antitrust-trial-nears-end-2023-12-11/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://archive.ph/WaLBK |archive-date=12 Dec 2023 |access-date=1 May 2025 |website=[[Reuters]]}}</ref>

On 1 May 2025, Rogers found that Apple willfully chose not to comply with the 2021 injunction, commenting "that it thought this court would tolerate such insubordination was a gross miscalculation".<ref>{{Cite web |last=Peters |first=Jay |date=1 May 2025 |title=A judge just blew up Apple’s control of the App Store |url=https://www.theverge.com/news/659246/apple-epic-app-store-judge-ruling-control |url-status=live |archive-url=https://archive.ph/IThaV |archive-date=1 May 2025 |access-date=1 May 2025 |website=[[The Verge]]}}</ref>

===Facebook online events===
In August 2020, in response to the COVID-19 pandemic, Facebook introduced the ability for small businesses to accept an entrance fee for events. Previously, Facebook would only serve as a way to RSVP for an event; the organizer had to use a third-party event ticketing system to collect fees. The company pledged not to collect any fee on event sales "until 2023."<ref>{{Cite web |date=14 Aug 2020 |title=Paid Online Events for Small Business Recovery |url=https://about.fb.com/news/2020/08/paid-online-events/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://archive.ph/7X7KH |archive-date=6 Sep 2020 |access-date=16 Mar 2025 |website=[[Meta]]}}</ref>

Apple, however, requiring the feature to use an in-app purchases system. This introduced Apple's 30% fee. Because this increased the cost for end users and was not a fee imposed by the event holders, it was initially displayed as a line item upon check out. Apple argued that this disclosure was "irrelevant."<ref name="facebook" /> In the end, Facebook was allowed display the fee, but ''without'' stating that it was an App Store fee.

===HEY===
HEY.com is a paid webmail provider launched in June 2020 by long-time software company [[wikipedia:37signals|37signals]], specializing in inbox organization tools.

After successfully launching the initial version of the app on the App Store, the company announced that an update was rejected due to a complaint about the business model. The app does not support in-app purchases; instead, users are expected to have an account with the service already. Apple did not like this arrangement and demanded that the company build an in-app subscription option. The company argued that it is being held to a different set of rules than apps such as [[Netflix, Inc.|Netflix]], whose app does not provide any way to purchase a subscription.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Kastrenakes |first=Jacob |date=17 Jun 2020 |title=Hey.com exec says Apple is acting like ‘gangsters,’ rejecting App Store updates and demanding cut of sales |url=https://www.theverge.com/2020/6/16/21293419/hey-apple-rejection-ios-app-store-dhh-gangsters-antitrust |url-status=live |archive-url=https://archive.ph/OERP2 |archive-date=28 Jun 2020 |access-date=16 Mar 2025 |website=[[The Verge]]}}</ref> After a suggestion from Apple executive Phil Schiller in the media, HEY introduced a 14-day free trial mode, which was approved.<ref>https://www.hey.com/apple/path/ ([http://web.archive.org/web/20251114230238/https://www.hey.com/apple/path/ Archived])</ref><ref>https://techcrunch.com/2020/06/18/interview-apples-schiller-says-position-on-hey-app-is-unchanged-and-no-rules-changes-are-imminent/ ([http://web.archive.org/web/20251113115149/https://techcrunch.com/2020/06/18/interview-apples-schiller-says-position-on-hey-app-is-unchanged-and-no-rules-changes-are-imminent/ Archived])</ref>

===Patreon===
In August 2024, [[Patreon]] announced a change in arrangement with Apple for its App Store app. From November 2024, subscriptions started from the iOS app would be required to use the in-app purchase system, bypassing Patreon's own long-standing payment practices.<ref>{{Cite web |date=12 Aug 2024 |title=Apple’s requirements are about to hit creators and fans on Patreon. Here’s what you need to know. |url=https://news.patreon.com/articles/understanding-apple-requirements-for-patreon |url-status=live |archive-url=https://archive.ph/3Wid0 |archive-date=14 Aug 2024 |access-date=16 Mar 2025 |website=[[Patreon]]}}</ref><ref name="patreon" /> This change does not affect the Android app.

By forcing Patreon out of the payments pipeline, specific payment models are no longer available to users of Patreon's iOS app. Creators who rely on the "per-creation" payment model, as opposed to the standard "per-month", can no longer be subscribed to from the app. The app is also unable to support the "first-of-the-month" model, where payments from all subscribers are collected on the first day of the month, rather than every 30 days, since each member's subscription day varies. The price must also be rounded to a price tier supported by Apple.

Patreon allows creators to choose between increasing their prices by 30% in the iOS app or maintaining the same prices, forfeiting 30% to Apple. Creators frequently remind potential supporters not to use the Patreon iOS app, adding extra inconvenience to those wanting to support the work of small creators.

<gallery mode="packed" heights="400px">
File:Patreon iOS app pricing options - fee on top.png|"Maintain earnings and cover Apple's fee by increasing prices in the iOS app" (Recommended)
File:Patreon iOS app pricing options - absorb fee.png|"Keep prices in the iOS app the same and cover Apple's fee yourself."
</gallery>

A similar case occurred with the app Fanhouse in 2021.<ref>{{Cite web |last=@jasminericegirl |date=9 Jun 2021 |title=#fuckapple, a thread I cofounded @fanhouseapp 8 months ago to empower creators to monetize their content. We pay creators 90% of earnings. Now, Apple is threatening to remove Fanhouse from the app store unless we give them 30% of creator earnings. This is theft and exploitation. |url=https://x.com/jasminericegirl/status/1402691047940100100 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://archive.ph/U0qQw |archive-date=7 Jan 2026 |access-date=16 Mar 2025 |website=[[X]]}}</ref>

===Twitter===
In August 2021, [[Twitter]] introduced a feature named Super Follows (now Subscriptions), in which users can pay a subscription fee to access more of a creator's content. For each user who enables Subscriptions, Twitter must submit a new in-app purchase SKU to the App Store, which will become available with the next update to the app.<ref>{{Cite web |last=@wongmjane |date=2 Sep 2021 |title=Each Super Follow is an In-App Purchase on the App Store, but because there are too many IAPs for the Twitter app, the App Store only shows 10 instead of the full list |url=https://x.com/wongmjane/status/1433372120080261120 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://archive.ph/3gqwM |archive-date=7 Jan 2026 |access-date=16 Mar 2025 |website=[[X]]}}</ref> This, of course, is subject to the 30% fee. At the time of writing in January 2025, viewing the App Store listing reveals Elon Musk's $4.00 subscription as the fourth most popular IAP item.

==Notarization==
Since 2015, Apple has required all Mac apps to be "notarized." This is a preliminary, automated malware check, which, upon passing, provides a notary certificate that gets "stapled" to the app. Apple's explanation:

<blockquote>
Notarization of macOS software is not App Review. The Apple notary service is an automated system that scans your software for malicious content, checks for code-signing issues, and returns the results to you quickly. If there are no issues, the notary service generates a ticket for you to staple to your software; the notary service also publishes that ticket online where Gatekeeper can find it.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Notarizing macOS software before distribution |url=https://developer.apple.com/documentation/security/notarizing-macos-software-before-distribution |url-status=live |archive-url=https://archive.ph/H4EO9 |archive-date=26 Nov 2024 |access-date=16 Mar 2025 |website=[[Apple Developer]]}}</ref>
</blockquote>

Whether this approach is actually better than that used by Windows antivirus, which only detects new malware samples when they are already on a user's computer, is a separate topic.

To comply with the DMA's regulations on app marketplaces, Apple created a new channel for releasing apps outside of the iOS App Store. Apps go through a notarization process. But the process is definitely ''not'' notarization. The name is intentionally being abused, by contrast to notarization on macOS, to make you believe it is something other than the existing App Review system. Despite the pain some developers and users have with it, notarization on macOS has always been considered a net positive. It made sense to take advantage of its reputation for the entirely different "notarization" on iOS.

See for yourself - view the [https://developer.apple.com/app-store/review/guidelines/ App Review Guidelines] and tick "Show Notarization Review Guidelines Only". While this eliminates most rules, a significant number of them remain in place. These apps are still reviewed and tested by the App Review team, must have a complete product listing in App Store Connect, and can be outright rejected - all in the same way as an App Store app.

By contrast, all that is required for notarization on macOS is for your app not to be malware. You submit it to an automated system that approves it within minutes. '''You don't need to convince Apple that your app is worthy of existing on their platform.'''

The purpose of macOS notarization is that Apple maintains a record of all binaries intended for wide distribution on macOS, allowing it to review them both in advance and regularly for known malware/common malware patterns. If a malware app manages to get through, when Apple initially finds out, they can go back into the notary records and find every sample of that malware to analyze and block. This is a purely technical process, managed by skilled security researchers. At the same time, iOS app review and "notarization" are business processes managed by workers who have been given a checklist of violations to look for.

Apple is retaining complete control over what's allowed to run on iOS. On macOS, you can choose to run apps that have not been notarized (even though the process to bypass the warning is intentionally difficult). On iOS, you never get even that option. What Apple created is the App Store, but with more steps. It is still available on the App Store, but it is hidden so that it can only be installed through the third-party store it's tied to.

*Mysk: "iOS should enable alternative marketplaces to add their own links when users share their apps. Links still point to the App Store, and if the app is not available there, this happens."<ref>{{Cite web |last=@mysk_co |date=28 Jun 2024 |title=iOS should enable alternative marketplaces to add their own links when users share their apps. Links still point to the App Store and if the app is not available there, this happens: |url=https://x.com/mysk_co/status/1806638308455256242 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://archive.ph/DsQQH |archive-date=7 Jan 2026 |access-date=16 Mar 2025 |website=[[X]]}}</ref>

==JIT==
The following paragraph is highly technical: JIT allows for speedy programs/apps, and due to its fast nature, it's used almost everywhere and represents a massive improvement over older code interpreters.

[[wikipedia:Just-in-time compilation|JIT]], which stands for Just-In-Time, is a method of code execution where code, instead of being compiled before being distributed (like an EXE), gets compiled into machine code in real time right before being executed. This method of code execution allows for much faster website loading times, speedier emulation, faster program execution (with programs written in JavaScript, Python, Lua...) compared to interpreters, which instead translate code into machine code line by line, which is much, much slower; JIT also employs many more optimization techniques meant to improve performance.

Safari is allowed to use JIT to compile code from any site, just like Apple's [https://apps.apple.com/app/swift-playgrounds/id908519492 Playgrounds] app on iPad. Playgrounds bundle Apple's [[wikipedia:Swift (programming language)|Swift]] compiler and share backend code with the version of Playgrounds found in [[wikipedia:Xcode|Xcode]].

Third-party apps, such as Pythonista (a Python IDE), emulators like Delta and UTM, and terminal environments like iSH, are not allowed to use JIT; instead, they must interpret code, which results in severe performance degradation and increased computational expense, potentially draining more battery.

An example of apps being heavily affected by this restriction is UTM. UTM is a port of [[wikipedia:QEMU|QEMU]] for iOS, iPadOS, and macOS, allowing users to create [[wikipedia:Virtual_machine|VMs]] that can run various operating systems, such as Microsoft Windows. The iPhone's hardware is capable enough to emulate various modern OSes at full speed. Still, due to Apple's JIT limitation, the team behind UTM had to create UTM SE (slow edition), which doesn't require JIT but is nowhere near as fast as UTM with JIT, only being capable of running MS-DOS and derivatives at acceptable speeds. While methods that enable JIT for apps other than Safari and Playgrounds exist (some are currently working on iOS 18.5, like [https://apps.apple.com/us/app/stikdebug/id6744045754 StikDebug]), Apple does not allow the use of JIT in notarized apps, meaning that apps that support JIT will have to be sideloaded, which comes with its own set of restrictions.

In the EU, Apple permitted web browsers to use rendering and JavaScript engines other than the built-in with Apple WebKit/JavaScriptCore, with the option for JS engines to use JIT. The browser still needs to be approved by Apple for an entitlement and must then work within the APIs provided by Apple. However, as of January 2025, no browsers using engines different from the built-in ones have been released, primarily due to arbitrarily imposed restrictions intended to discourage the use and development of third-party engines.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Mozilla says Apple’s new browser rules are ‘as painful as possible’ for Firefox |url=https://www.theverge.com/2024/1/26/24052067/mozilla-apple-ios-browser-rules-firefox |url-status=live |archive-url=https://archive.ph/720xn |archive-date=26 Jan 2024 |access-date=16 Mar 2025 |website=[[The Verge]]}}</ref>

However, Apple still does not allow different engines outside of the EU, with or without JIT support.<ref>{{Cite web |title=App Review Guidelines |url=https://developer.apple.com/app-store/review/guidelines/#2.5.6 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://archive.ph/D9fQQ |archive-date=7 Jan 2026 |access-date=16 Mar 2025 |website=[[Apple Developer]]}}</ref>
==In-app browsers==
When apps want to display web content without opening the standalone Safari browser, app developers can use Apple’s [https://developer.apple.com/documentation/webkit/ WebKit] APIs, such as WKWebView. However, due to Apple’s [https://developer.apple.com/documentation/security/app-sandbox application sandboxing] and WebKit’s data-isolation model, web content loaded inside one app does not have access to Safari’s cookies, browsing history, saved sessions, or extensions, nor to data from other apps’ embedded web views. Each app’s embedded browser operates with its own isolated website data store.

As a result, web pages opened inside embedded browsers, such as those used in apps like Facebook, do not appear in Safari’s browsing history, and there is typically no persistent, user-accessible history within the app itself. Users may also be asked to sign in to the same services (for example, during OAuth login flows like Google) because cookies and session data are not shared with Safari. Additionally, Safari extensions, including content blockers, dark-mode tools, and other privacy or accessibility extensions, do not function inside embedded web views.

Apple states App Sandboxing "provides protection to system resources and user data by limiting your app’s access to resources requested through entitlements."<ref>{{Cite web |date=2025-01-12 |title=App Sandbox {{!}} Apple Developer Documentation |url=https://developer.apple.com/documentation/security/app-sandbox |url-status=live |archive-url=https://archive.ph/IkLXF |archive-date=2026-02-20 |access-date=2025-01-12 |website=Apple Developer}}</ref> However, developers have voiced frustration with how WebKit is sandboxed which can result in degraded user experiences, such as with repeated OAuth login flows between apps.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2025-01-12 |title=Impact of iOS 11 no longer providing shared cookies between Safari, Safari View Controller instances |url=https://github.com/openid/AppAuth-iOS/issues/120 |url-status=live |access-date=2025-01-12 |website=GitHub |archive-url=http://web.archive.org/web/20251113172345/https://github.com/openid/AppAuth-iOS/issues/120 |archive-date=13 Nov 2025}}</ref> Some developers have found workarounds for sharing information with the native Safari app, but it is unknown whether these methods still function in modern versions Apple's various operating systems.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Storey |first=Leon |date=2025-01-12 |title=Does WKWebView uses cookies from Safari? |url=https://stackoverflow.com/a/41486576 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20260218231045/https://stackoverflow.com/questions/40148060/does-wkwebview-uses-cookies-from-safari |archive-date=2026-02-18 |access-date=2025-01-12 |website=StackOverflow}}</ref>

==See also==
*[https://theapplewiki.com/wiki/Eligibility Eligibility]
*Posts written by the author of this article:
**[https://adamdemasi.com/2024/04/19/app-marketplace-experience.html The iOS 17.4 app marketplace flow is a disaster] ([https://web.archive.org/web/20251112051617/https://adamdemasi.com/2024/04/19/app-marketplace-experience.html Archived] 2025-11-12)
**[https://adamdemasi.com/2024/04/20/ios-eligibility.html How I tricked iOS into giving me EU DMA features] ([https://web.archive.org/web/20260112053403/https://adamdemasi.com/2024/04/20/ios-eligibility.html Archived] 2026-01-12)
**[https://adamdemasi.com/2024/04/23/ios-eligibility-features.html Features controlled by iOS 17.4's eligibility system] ([https://web.archive.org/web/20260112053400/https://adamdemasi.com/2024/04/23/ios-eligibility-features.html Archived] 2026-01-12)

==References==
<references />

[[Category:Apple App Store]]

Apple App Store

2026-02-21T20:09:33Z

CopyeditorHF: Deleted section about Apple's decision to require in-app purchasing possibly being related to concerns about customer service as it was speculative.

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'''[[Apple]]''' uses a range of technical measures to maintain control over the App Store ecosystem. While Apple cites security and user-friendliness as the reasoning behind these measures, they often create roadblocks for users as well as app developers. Some of the methods Apple uses to control its ecosystem hinders lawmakers' ability to advocate for the rights of consumers and businesses within Apple's ecosystem and prevents apps from being as useful and free as their customers expect.

Although there are supported iOS application installation source alternatives such as [https://altstore.io/ Altstore], they are not commonly used or known, which gives Apple a practical monopoly over iOS users and iOS app developers.

Apple has made claims that they are unaware about the profitability of the App Store<ref>{{Cite web |last=Lovejoy |first=Ben |date=17 Apr 2024 |title=Schiller doesn’t know whether the App Store is profitable; there are no minutes of meetings |url=https://9to5mac.com/2024/04/17/app-store-is-profitable-apple-notes/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://archive.ph/AinvZ |archive-date=7 Jan 2026 |access-date=16 Mar 2025 |website=[[9to5Mac]]}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Lovejoy |first=Ben |date=17 Jan 2025 |title=Apple denies App Store profit margin is 75% – claims to have no clue |url=https://9to5mac.com/2025/01/17/apple-denies-app-store-profit-margin-is-75-claims-to-have-no-clue/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://archive.ph/Df7hl |archive-date=7 Jan 2026 |access-date=16 Mar 2025 |website=[[9t05Mac]]}}</ref> but takes fees of up to 30% on digital product sales and subscriptions,<ref>{{Cite web |last=Mehta |first=Tushar |date=2025-05-06 |title=Apple cuts App Store fees, but experts urge caution against new U.S. pricing guidelines |url=https://www.digitaltrends.com/phones/what-experts-say-about-apple-app-store-pricing-changes/ |access-date=2026-02-20 |website=digitaltrends}}</ref> ranging from game currency to supporting content creators<ref name="patreon">{{Cite web |last=Roth |first=Emma |date=12 Aug 2024 |title=Patreon: adding Apple’s 30 percent tax is the price of staying in the App Store |url=https://www.theverge.com/2024/8/12/24218629/patreon-membership-ios-30-percent-apple-tax |url-status=live |archive-url=https://archive.ph/Vi9cV |archive-date=13 Nov 2024 |access-date=16 Mar 2025 |website=[[The Verge]]}}</ref> to booking a Zoom call with a local business.<ref name="facebook">{{Cite web |last=Paul |first=Katie |last2=Nellis |first2=Stephen |date=28 Aug 2020 |title=Exclusive: Facebook says Apple rejected its attempt to tell users about App Store fees |url=https://www.reuters.com/article/us-facebook-apple-exclusive/exclusive-facebook-says-apple-rejected-its-attempt-to-tell-users-about-app-store-fees-idUSKBN25O042/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://archive.ph/9CJDN |archive-date=7 Jan 2026 |access-date=16 Mar 2025 |website=[[Reuters]]}}</ref> Some argue that these fees hinder iOS app developers from innovating because this money cannot be used to further improve their applications.{{Citation needed}} There are groups in support of developers who are experiencing difficulties in continuing development due to Apple (and [[Google]]'s) fees of between 15% and 30% of all revenue. These groups deny the notion that Apple and Google require the money generated by the app more than the developer.{{Citation needed}} These fees also push app developers to increase prices to maximize profits, which increases the prices for end users.

Because of this, several governments including South Korea,<ref>{{Cite web |date=8 Mar 2022 |title=South Korea approves rules on app store law targeting Apple, Google |url=https://www.reuters.com/technology/skorea-approves-rules-app-store-law-targeting-apple-google-2022-03-08/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://archive.ph/q1VQW |archive-date=11 Jan 2023 |access-date=16 Mar 2025 |website=[[Reuters]]}}</ref> Japan,<ref>{{Cite web |last=Sharwood |first=Simon |date=13 Jun 2024 |title=Japan forces Apple and Google to allow third-party app stores and payments |url=https://www.theregister.com/2024/06/13/japan_smartphone_software_law/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://archive.ph/Jj9BI |archive-date=13 Jun 2024 |access-date=16 Mar 2025 |website=[[The Register]]}}</ref> the European Union,<ref>[[wikipedia:Digital Markets Act|Digital Markets Act]]</ref> the United Kingdom,<ref>{{Cite web |last=Competition and Markets Authority |date=4 Mar 2021 |title=Investigation into Apple AppStore |url=https://www.gov.uk/cma-cases/investigation-into-apple-appstore |url-status=live |archive-url=https://archive.ph/uZ7A5 |archive-date=7 Jan 2026 |access-date=16 Mar 2025 |website=[[gov.uk]]}}</ref> Australia,<ref>{{Cite web |date=28 Apr 2021 |title=Dominance of Apple and Google's app stores impacting competition and consumers |url=https://www.accc.gov.au/media-release/dominance-of-apple-and-googles-app-stores-impacting-competition-and-consumers |url-status=live |archive-url=https://archive.ph/Bw3gv |archive-date=7 Jan 2026 |access-date=16 Mar 2025 |website=[[ACCC]]}}</ref> as well as the US and a handful of US States<ref>[[wikipedia:Open App Markets Act|Open App Markets Act]]</ref><ref>{{Cite web |date=20 Nov 2024 |title=S.5364 - App Store Accountability Act |url=https://www.congress.gov/bill/118th-congress/senate-bill/5364/text/is |url-status=live |archive-url=https://archive.ph/7yPxE |archive-date=7 Jan 2026 |access-date=16 Mar 2025 |website=[[congress.gov]]}}</ref><ref name="doj">{{Cite web |last=Balsamo |first=Mike |last2=Liedtke |first2=Mike |last3=Whitehurst |first3=Lindsay |last4=Bajak |first4=Frank |date=21 Mar 2024 |title=Justice Department sues Apple, alleging it illegally monopolized the smartphone market |url=https://apnews.com/article/apple-antitrust-monopoly-app-store-justice-department-822d7e8f5cf53a2636795fcc33ee1fc3 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://archive.ph/BB4Zn |archive-date=21 Mar 2024 |access-date=16 Mar 2025 |website=[[APNews]]}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |date=19 Feb 2021 |title=It’s time to free ourselves from ‘Big Tech’ monopoly |url=https://azcapitoltimes.com/news/2021/02/19/its-time-to-free-ourselves-from-big-tech-monopoly/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://archive.ph/bLDwu |archive-date=23 Feb 2021 |access-date=16 Mar 2025 |website=[[Arizona Capitol Times]]}}</ref> have opened investigations into anti-competitive practices as well as have considered or passed legislation to require "gatekeeper platforms" such as Apple to be more reasonable with third-party developers.

In response to such legislative measures, Apple has instituted geo-blocking operating system functionality based on physical location,<ref>{{Cite web |title=Eligibility |url=https://theapplewiki.com/wiki/Eligibility |url-status=live |archive-url=https://archive.ph/Df7hl |archive-date=7 Jan 2026 |access-date=16 Mar 2025 |website=[[The Apple Wiki]]}}</ref> misrepresenting/overstating risks, and using careful wording with commonly understood terms to describe unreasonably difficult-to-use systems.{{Citation needed}}

Unlike traditional software license purchases, Apple's App Store terms tie the license to a specific account, making it impossible for users to resell their licenses secondhand, buy apps secondhand, or inherit a license from a relative.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2014-02-10 |title=I can sell my apps? |url=https://discussions.apple.com/thread/5888894 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://archive.ph/DelOf |archive-date=7 Jan 2026 |access-date=2025-11-25 |website=Apple Community}}</ref> This system has since been copied by numerous other players in the media and digital goods sector.

==Background info==
Important terms in this article:

*'''[[wikipedia:Sandbox (computer security)|Sandbox]]''': Reduces the user's device/data exposure to security risks by reducing what an app is allowed to do.
*'''[https://theapplewiki.com/wiki/Entitlements Entitlements]''': Apple's method of "poking holes" in the sandbox to give the app more permissions. Some are available to developers, while many are only available to Apple.
*'''[[wikipedia:Digital Markets Act|Digital Markets Act]]''': The European Union's recent regulations targeted at large "Big Tech" companies, classified as "Gatekeepers," and aimed at creating a more fair level of competition in digital markets, particularly for small or emerging companies.

==In-app purchases==
Apple has been collecting users' credit card numbers since launching the iTunes Store in 2004. The launch of the App Store in 2008, followed by the introduction of in-app purchases (IAPs) in 2009, allowed iPhone app developers to sell app features to users. The IAP system is provided as a developer framework named [https://developer.apple.com/storekit/ StoreKit]. Apps and their in-app purchases are managed through a dashboard named [https://developer.apple.com/app-store-connect/ App Store Connect]. App sales have eclipsed iTunes Store sales and are now a primary focus of Apple's Media Services division. Apple requires that any purchase of a digital good or service within an app use its in-app purchase system.

App Store purchase fees range from 15% to 30%. In September 2016, Apple expanded subscriptions to be available for any type of app, also introducing a 15% discount incentive for users who had already subscribed for a year.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Goode |first=Lauren |date=2 Sep 2016 |title=Apple’s new subscription offerings are now available to App Store developers |url=https://www.theverge.com/2016/9/2/12774758/apple-developers-app-store-new-subscription-rules |url-status=live |archive-url=https://archive.ph/KmJCn |archive-date=7 Jan 202 |access-date=16 Mar 2025 |website=[[The Verge]]}}</ref> In November 2020, Apple introduced a reduced 15% fee for app developers with annual revenue below $1 million.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Centers |first=Josh |date=18 Nov 2020 |title=Apple Drops App Store Commission to 15% for Small Developers |url=https://tidbits.com/2020/11/18/apple-drops-app-store-commission-to-15-for-small-developers/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://archive.ph/tt8Hs |archive-date=7 Jan 2026 |access-date=16 Mar 2025 |website=[[TidBITS]]}}</ref> For developers above this threshold, and for cases excluded from this program, such as for games, the fee is 30%. In the 2008 announcement of the App Store, Apple considered this a reasonable, industry-standard fee. However, the way we use apps has significantly evolved since 2009 - the world has shifted to heavily depend upon mobile apps, which have also evolved into more complex and sustainable business models than a simple one-time purchase.

[[wikipedia:Stripe, Inc.|Stripe]], a popular platform used for payments on the web, uses a base fee of 2.9% plus a fixed $0.30 in the United States.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Pricing |url=https://stripe.com/it/pricing |url-status=live |archive-url=https://archive.ph/FoCG4 |archive-date=7 Jan 2026 |access-date=16 Mar 2025 |website=[[Stripe]]}}</ref> With add-on services, before considering volume discounts, a Stripe transaction may have a cost of 6.4% + $1.10.<ref>Calculated from base fee (2.9% + $0.30) + international card (1.5%) + adaptive pricing (2%) + international payment methods ($0.80), as of January 2025</ref> Stripe has been used by businesses ranging from small online stores to [[OpenAI]] for ChatGPT Plus. Competing payment services have similar or identical fees to Stripe. '''The in-app purchase system does not provide sufficient value to justify the considerably higher costs compared to alternative payment platforms.'''

The App Store system poorly handles secondary marketplaces of digital services that exist within the primary App Store marketplace, such as Patreon. Apple, however, still requires companies in the business of selling digital services to use this inadequate system. This requires the app to account for Apple's fee, which is significant enough to warrant price increases frequently, and to follow rules even if they do not align with the nature of the service being provided. Apple has often been found in disputes with such apps. This injects extra complication at no benefit to the marketplace, the creator, or the customer - only to Apple, which has little to no involvement after delivering the initial app download to the user's phone. The significant fee also often drives app developers to consider building their app around an advertising model instead, creating privacy concerns.

Additionally, the 15% small business fee discount is determined based on the app's overall turnover and is not applied to individual creators within the app's marketplace. An app that generates over $1 million per year by providing services to creators who individually earn less than $1 million per year does not qualify for the discount.

Apple, often in conjunction with Google, engages in lobbying efforts in the United States and other countries to address these issues. "ACT | The App Association", pitched as an association of independent small business app developers, is at least 50% funded by Apple, and does not list its claimed 2,000 members.<ref>{{Cite web |date=1 Oct 2021 |title=Not a class ACT: the so-called App Association is simply an Apple Association and does NOT represent app developers' interests in fair distribution terms |url=https://www.fosspatents.com/2021/10/not-class-act-so-called-app-association.html |url-status=live |archive-url=https://archive.ph/eyn0i |archive-date=7 Jan 2026 |access-date=16 Mar 2025 |website=[[FOSS Patents]]}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |date=19 Sep 2022 |title=Vast majority of ACT {{!}} The App Association's funding comes from Apple, former employees tell Bloomberg: astroturfing against app developers' interests |url=https://www.fosspatents.com/2022/09/vast-majority-of-act-app-associations.html |url-status=live |archive-url=https://archive.ph/eGRNV |archive-date=7 Jan 2026 |access-date=16 Mar 2025 |website=[[FOSS Patents]]}}</ref> In March 2024, the United States Department of Justice, along with 16 state attorneys general, filed a lawsuit against Apple, alleging that the company "extracts more money from consumers, developers, content creators, artists, publishers, small businesses, and merchants, among others."<ref name="doj" /> The future of this lawsuit is unclear as of April 2025.

Despite criticism of Apple forcing its fee into transactions with small businesses and creators on platforms such as [[#Patreon|Patreon]] and [[#Facebook online events|Facebook]], on January 23, 2025, Apple announced the Advanced Commerce API. It "support[s] developers' evolving business models - such as extensive content catalogs, creator experiences, and subscriptions with optional add-ons".<ref>{{Cite web |date=23 Jan 2025 |title=Introducing the Advanced Commerce API |url=https://developer.apple.com/news/?id=yxy958ya |url-status=live |archive-url=https://archive.ph/KEH8h |archive-date=23 Jan 2025 |access-date=16 Mar 2025 |website=[[Apple Developer]]}}</ref> While positioned as a way for such businesses to save development time and avoid ongoing costs by building on top of Apple's mature payments platform, its use is, in fact, necessary for these businesses to comply with the App Store guidelines, as seen in the cases outlined below. The feature requires submitting a description of the app's business model to Apple for approval. This continues a trend of requiring Apple's consent to conduct business in a place where users have been trained to expect it.

===Epic Games===
{{hatnote|See also: [[wikipedia:Epic Games v. Apple|Epic Games v. Apple]] and [[wikipedia:Epic Games v. Google|Epic Games v. Google]]}}

[[Epic Games, Inc.]] is a video game developer and publisher, known for games such as [[Fortnite]] and [[Unreal Tournament]], the [[Unreal Engine]], and the [[Epic Games Store]].

In 2018, Epic Games launched Fortnite on the iOS and Android platforms. The company made the unusual decision not to release the app on the [[Google Play Store]] - instead, it was made available as a standalone [[wikipedia:apk (file format)|Android app package]] file (.apk), which must be installed by following a series of manual steps.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Statt |first=Nick |date=3 Aug 2018 |title=Fortnite for Android will ditch Google Play Store for Epic’s website |url=https://www.theverge.com/2018/8/3/17645982/epic-games-fortnite-android-version-bypass-google-play-store |url-status=live |archive-url=https://archive.ph/yTQLj |archive-date=16 Mar 2021 |access-date=1 May 2025 |website=[[The Verge]]}}</ref> The app was also released on the [[Samsung]] [[Samsung Galaxy Store|Galaxy Store]]. Google offered Epic Games a $147 million deal to release Fortnite on the Play Store, which the company declined.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Robertson |first=Adi |date=9 Nov 2023 |title=Google offered Epic $147 million to launch Fortnite on the Play Store |url=https://www.theverge.com/2023/11/8/23953262/google-epic-fortnite-play-store-investment-antitrust-trial |url-status=live |archive-url=https://archive.ph/poKzi |archive-date=9 Nov 2023 |access-date=1 May 2025 |website=[[The Verge]]}}</ref>

On 22 April 2020, Fortnite was finally released on the Play Store.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Carpenter |first=Nicole |date=22 April 2020 |title=Fortnite available on the Google Play Store for the first time |url=https://www.polygon.com/2020/4/21/21229930/fortnite-available-on-google-play-android-mobile-devices |url-status=live |archive-url=https://archive.ph/Z0huU |archive-date=13 Aug 2020 |access-date=1 May 2025 |website=[[Polygon]]}}</ref> In a statement, the company explained:

<blockquote>
After 18 months of operating Fortnite on Android outside of the Google Play Store, we've come to a basic realization: Google puts software downloadable outside of Google Play at a disadvantage, through technical and business measures such as scary, repetitive security pop-ups for downloaded and updated software, restrictive manufacturer and carrier agreements and dealings, Google public relations characterizing third party software sources as malware, and new efforts such as Google Play Protect to outright block software obtained outside the Google Play store.
</blockquote>

On 13 August 2020, Epic Games launched a campaign against both Apple and Google's app store business practices. The company released app updates on both platforms, introducing a method for purchasing V-Bucks, in-game currency, at a 20% discount by directly transacting with Epic Games, against the developer rules of both platforms. The platforms responded by removing the game from their storefronts. Epic Games then filed civil antitrust lawsuits against both companies in the Northern District of California.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Statt |first=Nick |date=14 Aug 2020 |title=Epic Games is suing Apple |url=https://www.theverge.com/2020/8/13/21367963/epic-fortnite-legal-complaint-apple-ios-app-store-removal-injunctive-relief |url-status=live |archive-url=https://archive.ph/vfFgU |archive-date=14 Aug 2020 |access-date=1 May 2025 |website=[[The Verge]]}}</ref> The campaign, branded "Free Fortnite", was later extended with lawsuits and complaints in Australia,<ref>{{Cite web |date=18 Nov 2020 |title=Epic Games extends its fight against Apple to Australia |url=https://www.epicgames.com/site/en-US/freefortnite-australia-press-release |url-status=live |access-date=16 Mar 2025 |website=[[Epic Games]] |archive-url=http://web.archive.org/web/20251219044545/https://www.epicgames.com/site/en-US/freefortnite-australia-press-release |archive-date=19 Dec 2025}}</ref> the European Union,<ref>{{Cite web |date=17 Feb 2021 |title=Epic Game Files EU Antitrust Complaint Against Apple |url=https://www.epicgames.com/site/en-US/news/epic-games-files-eu-antitrust-complaint-against-apple |url-status=live |archive-url=https://archive.ph/0Nqn7 |archive-date=26 May 2025 |access-date=16 Mar 2025 |website=[[Epic Games]]}}</ref> and the United Kingdom.<ref>{{Cite web |date=30 Mar 2021 |title=Epic Games files complaint to support CMA Apple investigation |url=https://www.epicgames.com/site/en-US/news/epic-games-files-complaint-to-support-cma-apple-investigation |url-status=live |archive-url=https://archive.ph/FMiCR |archive-date=7 Jan 2026 |access-date=16 Mar 2025 |website=[[Epic Games]]}}</ref>

On September 11, 2021, Judge Yvonne Gonzalez Rogers decided the case. While the lawsuit against Apple failed on nine of the ten counts, Rogers ruled against Apple's use of "anti-steering" - its strategy of preventing users from being "steered" to a third-party storefront for payment processing - and placed a permanent injunction on this behavior.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Brandon |first=Russell |date=11 Sep 2021 |title=Apple must allow other forms of in-app purchase, rules judge in Epic v. Apple |url=https://www.theverge.com/2021/9/10/22662320/epic-apple-ruling-injunction-judge-court-app-store |url-status=live |archive-url=https://archive.ph/gf9tJ |archive-date=10 Sep 2021 |access-date=1 May 2025 |website=[[The Verge]]}}</ref> Despite the case mostly failing, the discovery process provided significant insight into Apple's decision-making process regarding App Store policies, including decisions made in major app review disputes. In one case, executive Phil Schiller argued for reducing the fee by 30%.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Gurman |first=Mark |date=4 May 2021 |title=Apple’s Schiller Floated Cutting App Store Fees a Decade Ago |url=https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2021-05-03/apple-s-schiller-floated-cutting-app-store-fees-a-decade-ago |url-status=live |archive-url=https://archive.ph/R7Zus |archive-date=7 Jan 2026 |access-date=1 May 2025 |website=[[Bloomberg]]}}</ref>

Epic Games and Apple both appealed the decision. 35 state attorneys-general, the [[Electronic Frontier Foundation]] (EFF), [[Microsoft]], among others, filed amicus briefs in support of Epic Games.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Peters |first=Jay |date=29 Jan 2022 |title=Epic largely lost to Apple, but 35 states are now backing its fight in a higher court |url=https://www.theverge.com/2022/1/28/22907106/epic-games-v-apple-amicus-briefs-states-eff-microsoft-appeal |url-status=live |archive-url=https://archive.ph/P0TZY |archive-date=7 Jan 2026 |access-date=1 May 2025 |website=[[The Verge]]}}</ref>

On 11 December 2023, the jury in the case against Google decided on all 11 counts in favor of Epic Games.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Bensinger |first=Greg |last2=Scarcella |first2=Mike |date=13 Dec 2023 |title=Epic Games wins antitrust case against Google over Play app store |url=https://www.reuters.com/legal/google-epic-games-face-off-app-antitrust-trial-nears-end-2023-12-11/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://archive.ph/WaLBK |archive-date=12 Dec 2023 |access-date=1 May 2025 |website=[[Reuters]]}}</ref>

On 1 May 2025, Rogers found that Apple willfully chose not to comply with the 2021 injunction, commenting "that it thought this court would tolerate such insubordination was a gross miscalculation".<ref>{{Cite web |last=Peters |first=Jay |date=1 May 2025 |title=A judge just blew up Apple’s control of the App Store |url=https://www.theverge.com/news/659246/apple-epic-app-store-judge-ruling-control |url-status=live |archive-url=https://archive.ph/IThaV |archive-date=1 May 2025 |access-date=1 May 2025 |website=[[The Verge]]}}</ref>

===Facebook online events===
In August 2020, in response to the COVID-19 pandemic, Facebook introduced the ability for small businesses to accept an entrance fee for events. Previously, Facebook would only serve as a way to RSVP for an event; the organizer had to use a third-party event ticketing system to collect fees. The company pledged not to collect any fee on event sales "until 2023."<ref>{{Cite web |date=14 Aug 2020 |title=Paid Online Events for Small Business Recovery |url=https://about.fb.com/news/2020/08/paid-online-events/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://archive.ph/7X7KH |archive-date=6 Sep 2020 |access-date=16 Mar 2025 |website=[[Meta]]}}</ref>

Apple, however, requiring the feature to use an in-app purchases system. This introduced Apple's 30% fee. Because this increased the cost for end users and was not a fee imposed by the event holders, it was initially displayed as a line item upon check out. Apple argued that this disclosure was "irrelevant."<ref name="facebook" /> In the end, Facebook was allowed display the fee, but ''without'' stating that it was an App Store fee.

===HEY===
HEY.com is a paid webmail provider launched in June 2020 by long-time software company [[wikipedia:37signals|37signals]], specializing in inbox organization tools.

After successfully launching the initial version of the app on the App Store, the company announced that an update was rejected due to a complaint about the business model. The app does not support in-app purchases; instead, users are expected to have an account with the service already. Apple did not like this arrangement and demanded that the company build an in-app subscription option. The company argued that it is being held to a different set of rules than apps such as [[Netflix, Inc.|Netflix]], whose app does not provide any way to purchase a subscription.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Kastrenakes |first=Jacob |date=17 Jun 2020 |title=Hey.com exec says Apple is acting like ‘gangsters,’ rejecting App Store updates and demanding cut of sales |url=https://www.theverge.com/2020/6/16/21293419/hey-apple-rejection-ios-app-store-dhh-gangsters-antitrust |url-status=live |archive-url=https://archive.ph/OERP2 |archive-date=28 Jun 2020 |access-date=16 Mar 2025 |website=[[The Verge]]}}</ref> After a suggestion from Apple executive Phil Schiller in the media, HEY introduced a 14-day free trial mode, which was approved.<ref>https://www.hey.com/apple/path/ ([http://web.archive.org/web/20251114230238/https://www.hey.com/apple/path/ Archived])</ref><ref>https://techcrunch.com/2020/06/18/interview-apples-schiller-says-position-on-hey-app-is-unchanged-and-no-rules-changes-are-imminent/ ([http://web.archive.org/web/20251113115149/https://techcrunch.com/2020/06/18/interview-apples-schiller-says-position-on-hey-app-is-unchanged-and-no-rules-changes-are-imminent/ Archived])</ref>

===Patreon===
In August 2024, [[Patreon]] announced a change in arrangement with Apple for its App Store app. From November 2024, subscriptions started from the iOS app would be required to use the in-app purchase system, bypassing Patreon's own long-standing payment practices.<ref>{{Cite web |date=12 Aug 2024 |title=Apple’s requirements are about to hit creators and fans on Patreon. Here’s what you need to know. |url=https://news.patreon.com/articles/understanding-apple-requirements-for-patreon |url-status=live |archive-url=https://archive.ph/3Wid0 |archive-date=14 Aug 2024 |access-date=16 Mar 2025 |website=[[Patreon]]}}</ref><ref name="patreon" /> This change does not affect the Android app.

By forcing Patreon out of the payments pipeline, specific payment models are no longer available to users of Patreon's iOS app. Creators who rely on the "per-creation" payment model, as opposed to the standard "per-month", can no longer be subscribed to from the app. The app is also unable to support the "first-of-the-month" model, where payments from all subscribers are collected on the first day of the month, rather than every 30 days, since each member's subscription day varies. The price must also be rounded to a price tier supported by Apple.

Patreon allows creators to choose between increasing their prices by 30% in the iOS app or maintaining the same prices, forfeiting 30% to Apple. Creators frequently remind potential supporters not to use the Patreon iOS app, adding extra inconvenience to those wanting to support the work of small creators.

<gallery mode="packed" heights="400px">
File:Patreon iOS app pricing options - fee on top.png|"Maintain earnings and cover Apple's fee by increasing prices in the iOS app" (Recommended)
File:Patreon iOS app pricing options - absorb fee.png|"Keep prices in the iOS app the same and cover Apple's fee yourself."
</gallery>

A similar case occurred with the app Fanhouse in 2021.<ref>{{Cite web |last=@jasminericegirl |date=9 Jun 2021 |title=#fuckapple, a thread I cofounded @fanhouseapp 8 months ago to empower creators to monetize their content. We pay creators 90% of earnings. Now, Apple is threatening to remove Fanhouse from the app store unless we give them 30% of creator earnings. This is theft and exploitation. |url=https://x.com/jasminericegirl/status/1402691047940100100 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://archive.ph/U0qQw |archive-date=7 Jan 2026 |access-date=16 Mar 2025 |website=[[X]]}}</ref>

===Twitter===
In August 2021, [[Twitter]] introduced a feature named Super Follows (now Subscriptions), in which users can pay a subscription fee to access more of a creator's content. For each user who enables Subscriptions, Twitter must submit a new in-app purchase SKU to the App Store, which will become available with the next update to the app.<ref>{{Cite web |last=@wongmjane |date=2 Sep 2021 |title=Each Super Follow is an In-App Purchase on the App Store, but because there are too many IAPs for the Twitter app, the App Store only shows 10 instead of the full list |url=https://x.com/wongmjane/status/1433372120080261120 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://archive.ph/3gqwM |archive-date=7 Jan 2026 |access-date=16 Mar 2025 |website=[[X]]}}</ref> This, of course, is subject to the 30% fee. At the time of writing in January 2025, viewing the App Store listing reveals Elon Musk's $4.00 subscription as the fourth most popular IAP item.

==Notarization==
Since 2015, Apple has required all Mac apps to be "notarized." This is a preliminary, automated malware check, which, upon passing, provides a notary certificate that gets "stapled" to the app. Apple's explanation:

<blockquote>
Notarization of macOS software is not App Review. The Apple notary service is an automated system that scans your software for malicious content, checks for code-signing issues, and returns the results to you quickly. If there are no issues, the notary service generates a ticket for you to staple to your software; the notary service also publishes that ticket online where Gatekeeper can find it.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Notarizing macOS software before distribution |url=https://developer.apple.com/documentation/security/notarizing-macos-software-before-distribution |url-status=live |archive-url=https://archive.ph/H4EO9 |archive-date=26 Nov 2024 |access-date=16 Mar 2025 |website=[[Apple Developer]]}}</ref>
</blockquote>

Whether this approach is actually better than that used by Windows antivirus, which only detects new malware samples when they are already on a user's computer, is a separate topic.

To comply with the DMA's regulations on app marketplaces, Apple created a new channel for releasing apps outside of the iOS App Store. Apps go through a notarization process. But the process is definitely ''not'' notarization. The name is intentionally being abused, by contrast to notarization on macOS, to make you believe it is something other than the existing App Review system. Despite the pain some developers and users have with it, notarization on macOS has always been considered a net positive. It made sense to take advantage of its reputation for the entirely different "notarization" on iOS.

See for yourself - view the [https://developer.apple.com/app-store/review/guidelines/ App Review Guidelines] and tick "Show Notarization Review Guidelines Only". While this eliminates most rules, a significant number of them remain in place. These apps are still reviewed and tested by the App Review team, must have a complete product listing in App Store Connect, and can be outright rejected - all in the same way as an App Store app.

By contrast, all that is required for notarization on macOS is for your app not to be malware. You submit it to an automated system that approves it within minutes. '''You don't need to convince Apple that your app is worthy of existing on their platform.'''

The purpose of macOS notarization is that Apple maintains a record of all binaries intended for wide distribution on macOS, allowing it to review them both in advance and regularly for known malware/common malware patterns. If a malware app manages to get through, when Apple initially finds out, they can go back into the notary records and find every sample of that malware to analyze and block. This is a purely technical process, managed by skilled security researchers. At the same time, iOS app review and "notarization" are business processes managed by workers who have been given a checklist of violations to look for.

Apple is retaining complete control over what's allowed to run on iOS. On macOS, you can choose to run apps that have not been notarized (even though the process to bypass the warning is intentionally difficult). On iOS, you never get even that option. What Apple created is the App Store, but with more steps. It is still available on the App Store, but it is hidden so that it can only be installed through the third-party store it's tied to.

*Mysk: "iOS should enable alternative marketplaces to add their own links when users share their apps. Links still point to the App Store, and if the app is not available there, this happens."<ref>{{Cite web |last=@mysk_co |date=28 Jun 2024 |title=iOS should enable alternative marketplaces to add their own links when users share their apps. Links still point to the App Store and if the app is not available there, this happens: |url=https://x.com/mysk_co/status/1806638308455256242 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://archive.ph/DsQQH |archive-date=7 Jan 2026 |access-date=16 Mar 2025 |website=[[X]]}}</ref>

==JIT==
The following paragraph is highly technical: JIT allows for speedy programs/apps, and due to its fast nature, it's used almost everywhere and represents a massive improvement over older code interpreters.

[[wikipedia:Just-in-time compilation|JIT]], which stands for Just-In-Time, is a method of code execution where code, instead of being compiled before being distributed (like an EXE), gets compiled into machine code in real time right before being executed. This method of code execution allows for much faster website loading times, speedier emulation, faster program execution (with programs written in JavaScript, Python, Lua...) compared to interpreters, which instead translate code into machine code line by line, which is much, much slower; JIT also employs many more optimization techniques meant to improve performance.

Safari is allowed to use JIT to compile code from any site, just like Apple's [https://apps.apple.com/app/swift-playgrounds/id908519492 Playgrounds] app on iPad. Playgrounds bundle Apple's [[wikipedia:Swift (programming language)|Swift]] compiler and share backend code with the version of Playgrounds found in [[wikipedia:Xcode|Xcode]].

Third-party apps, such as Pythonista (a Python IDE), emulators like Delta and UTM, and terminal environments like iSH, are not allowed to use JIT; instead, they must interpret code, which results in severe performance degradation and increased computational expense, potentially draining more battery.

An example of apps being heavily affected by this restriction is UTM. UTM is a port of [[wikipedia:QEMU|QEMU]] for iOS, iPadOS, and macOS, allowing users to create [[wikipedia:Virtual_machine|VMs]] that can run various operating systems, such as Microsoft Windows. The iPhone's hardware is capable enough to emulate various modern OSes at full speed. Still, due to Apple's JIT limitation, the team behind UTM had to create UTM SE (slow edition), which doesn't require JIT but is nowhere near as fast as UTM with JIT, only being capable of running MS-DOS and derivatives at acceptable speeds. While methods that enable JIT for apps other than Safari and Playgrounds exist (some are currently working on iOS 18.5, like [https://apps.apple.com/us/app/stikdebug/id6744045754 StikDebug]), Apple does not allow the use of JIT in notarized apps, meaning that apps that support JIT will have to be sideloaded, which comes with its own set of restrictions.

In the EU, Apple permitted web browsers to use rendering and JavaScript engines other than the built-in with Apple WebKit/JavaScriptCore, with the option for JS engines to use JIT. The browser still needs to be approved by Apple for an entitlement and must then work within the APIs provided by Apple. However, as of January 2025, no browsers using engines different from the built-in ones have been released, primarily due to arbitrarily imposed restrictions intended to discourage the use and development of third-party engines.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Mozilla says Apple’s new browser rules are ‘as painful as possible’ for Firefox |url=https://www.theverge.com/2024/1/26/24052067/mozilla-apple-ios-browser-rules-firefox |url-status=live |archive-url=https://archive.ph/720xn |archive-date=26 Jan 2024 |access-date=16 Mar 2025 |website=[[The Verge]]}}</ref>

However, Apple still does not allow different engines outside of the EU, with or without JIT support.<ref>{{Cite web |title=App Review Guidelines |url=https://developer.apple.com/app-store/review/guidelines/#2.5.6 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://archive.ph/D9fQQ |archive-date=7 Jan 2026 |access-date=16 Mar 2025 |website=[[Apple Developer]]}}</ref>
==In-app browsers==
When apps want to display web content without opening the standalone Safari browser, app developers can use Apple’s [https://developer.apple.com/documentation/webkit/ WebKit] APIs, such as WKWebView. However, due to Apple’s [https://developer.apple.com/documentation/security/app-sandbox application sandboxing] and WebKit’s data-isolation model, web content loaded inside one app does not have access to Safari’s cookies, browsing history, saved sessions, or extensions, nor to data from other apps’ embedded web views. Each app’s embedded browser operates with its own isolated website data store.

As a result, web pages opened inside embedded browsers, such as those used in apps like Facebook, do not appear in Safari’s browsing history, and there is typically no persistent, user-accessible history within the app itself. Users may also be asked to sign in to the same services (for example, during OAuth login flows like Google) because cookies and session data are not shared with Safari. Additionally, Safari extensions, including content blockers, dark-mode tools, and other privacy or accessibility extensions, do not function inside embedded web views.

Apple states App Sandboxing "provides protection to system resources and user data by limiting your app’s access to resources requested through entitlements."<ref>{{Cite web |date=2025-01-12 |title=App Sandbox {{!}} Apple Developer Documentation |url=https://developer.apple.com/documentation/security/app-sandbox |url-status=live |archive-url=https://archive.ph/IkLXF |archive-date=2026-02-20 |access-date=2025-01-12 |website=Apple Developer}}</ref> However, developers have voiced frustration with how WebKit is sandboxed which can result in degraded user experiences, such as with repeated OAuth login flows between apps.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2025-01-12 |title=Impact of iOS 11 no longer providing shared cookies between Safari, Safari View Controller instances |url=https://github.com/openid/AppAuth-iOS/issues/120 |url-status=live |access-date=2025-01-12 |website=GitHub |archive-url=http://web.archive.org/web/20251113172345/https://github.com/openid/AppAuth-iOS/issues/120 |archive-date=13 Nov 2025}}</ref> Some developers have found workarounds for sharing information with the native Safari app, but it is unknown whether these methods still function in modern versions Apple's various operating systems.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Storey |first=Leon |date=2025-01-12 |title=Does WKWebView uses cookies from Safari? |url=https://stackoverflow.com/a/41486576 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20260218231045/https://stackoverflow.com/questions/40148060/does-wkwebview-uses-cookies-from-safari |archive-date=2026-02-18 |access-date=2025-01-12 |website=StackOverflow}}</ref>

==See also==
*[https://theapplewiki.com/wiki/Eligibility Eligibility]
*Posts written by the author of this article:
**[https://adamdemasi.com/2024/04/19/app-marketplace-experience.html The iOS 17.4 app marketplace flow is a disaster] ([https://web.archive.org/web/20251112051617/https://adamdemasi.com/2024/04/19/app-marketplace-experience.html Archived] 2025-11-12)
**[https://adamdemasi.com/2024/04/20/ios-eligibility.html How I tricked iOS into giving me EU DMA features] ([https://web.archive.org/web/20260112053403/https://adamdemasi.com/2024/04/20/ios-eligibility.html Archived] 2026-01-12)
**[https://adamdemasi.com/2024/04/23/ios-eligibility-features.html Features controlled by iOS 17.4's eligibility system] ([https://web.archive.org/web/20260112053400/https://adamdemasi.com/2024/04/23/ios-eligibility-features.html Archived] 2026-01-12)

==References==
<references />

[[Category:Apple App Store]]

Apple App Store

2026-02-21T20:03:17Z

CopyeditorHF: Tonal edits. Information was reworded to present the information in a more neutral way. Clarification of Digital Markets Act, wording was confusing.

{{ToneWarning}}
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|ArticleType=Service
|Category=Software marketplace
|Company=Apple
|Description=Software marketplace for official Apple products
|InProduction=Yes
|Logo=App Store (iOS).svg
|ProductLine=
|ReleaseYear=2008
|Website=https://www.apple.com/app-store/
}}

'''[[Apple]]''' uses a range of technical measures to maintain control over the App Store ecosystem. While Apple cites security and user-friendliness as the reasoning behind these measures, they often create roadblocks for users as well as app developers. Some of the methods Apple uses to control its ecosystem hinders lawmakers' ability to advocate for the rights of consumers and businesses within Apple's ecosystem and prevents apps from being as useful and free as their customers expect.

Although there are supported iOS application installation source alternatives such as [https://altstore.io/ Altstore], they are not commonly used or known, which gives Apple a practical monopoly over iOS users and iOS app developers.

Apple has made claims that they are unaware about the profitability of the App Store<ref>{{Cite web |last=Lovejoy |first=Ben |date=17 Apr 2024 |title=Schiller doesn’t know whether the App Store is profitable; there are no minutes of meetings |url=https://9to5mac.com/2024/04/17/app-store-is-profitable-apple-notes/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://archive.ph/AinvZ |archive-date=7 Jan 2026 |access-date=16 Mar 2025 |website=[[9to5Mac]]}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Lovejoy |first=Ben |date=17 Jan 2025 |title=Apple denies App Store profit margin is 75% – claims to have no clue |url=https://9to5mac.com/2025/01/17/apple-denies-app-store-profit-margin-is-75-claims-to-have-no-clue/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://archive.ph/Df7hl |archive-date=7 Jan 2026 |access-date=16 Mar 2025 |website=[[9t05Mac]]}}</ref> but takes fees of up to 30% on digital product sales and subscriptions,<ref>{{Cite web |last=Mehta |first=Tushar |date=2025-05-06 |title=Apple cuts App Store fees, but experts urge caution against new U.S. pricing guidelines |url=https://www.digitaltrends.com/phones/what-experts-say-about-apple-app-store-pricing-changes/ |access-date=2026-02-20 |website=digitaltrends}}</ref> ranging from game currency to supporting content creators<ref name="patreon">{{Cite web |last=Roth |first=Emma |date=12 Aug 2024 |title=Patreon: adding Apple’s 30 percent tax is the price of staying in the App Store |url=https://www.theverge.com/2024/8/12/24218629/patreon-membership-ios-30-percent-apple-tax |url-status=live |archive-url=https://archive.ph/Vi9cV |archive-date=13 Nov 2024 |access-date=16 Mar 2025 |website=[[The Verge]]}}</ref> to booking a Zoom call with a local business.<ref name="facebook">{{Cite web |last=Paul |first=Katie |last2=Nellis |first2=Stephen |date=28 Aug 2020 |title=Exclusive: Facebook says Apple rejected its attempt to tell users about App Store fees |url=https://www.reuters.com/article/us-facebook-apple-exclusive/exclusive-facebook-says-apple-rejected-its-attempt-to-tell-users-about-app-store-fees-idUSKBN25O042/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://archive.ph/9CJDN |archive-date=7 Jan 2026 |access-date=16 Mar 2025 |website=[[Reuters]]}}</ref> Some argue that these fees hinder iOS app developers from innovating because this money cannot be used to further improve their applications.{{Citation needed}} There are groups in support of developers who are experiencing difficulties in continuing development due to Apple (and [[Google]]'s) fees of between 15% and 30% of all revenue. These groups deny the notion that Apple and Google require the money generated by the app more than the developer.{{Citation needed}} These fees also push app developers to increase prices to maximize profits, which increases the prices for end users.

Because of this, several governments including South Korea,<ref>{{Cite web |date=8 Mar 2022 |title=South Korea approves rules on app store law targeting Apple, Google |url=https://www.reuters.com/technology/skorea-approves-rules-app-store-law-targeting-apple-google-2022-03-08/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://archive.ph/q1VQW |archive-date=11 Jan 2023 |access-date=16 Mar 2025 |website=[[Reuters]]}}</ref> Japan,<ref>{{Cite web |last=Sharwood |first=Simon |date=13 Jun 2024 |title=Japan forces Apple and Google to allow third-party app stores and payments |url=https://www.theregister.com/2024/06/13/japan_smartphone_software_law/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://archive.ph/Jj9BI |archive-date=13 Jun 2024 |access-date=16 Mar 2025 |website=[[The Register]]}}</ref> the European Union,<ref>[[wikipedia:Digital Markets Act|Digital Markets Act]]</ref> the United Kingdom,<ref>{{Cite web |last=Competition and Markets Authority |date=4 Mar 2021 |title=Investigation into Apple AppStore |url=https://www.gov.uk/cma-cases/investigation-into-apple-appstore |url-status=live |archive-url=https://archive.ph/uZ7A5 |archive-date=7 Jan 2026 |access-date=16 Mar 2025 |website=[[gov.uk]]}}</ref> Australia,<ref>{{Cite web |date=28 Apr 2021 |title=Dominance of Apple and Google's app stores impacting competition and consumers |url=https://www.accc.gov.au/media-release/dominance-of-apple-and-googles-app-stores-impacting-competition-and-consumers |url-status=live |archive-url=https://archive.ph/Bw3gv |archive-date=7 Jan 2026 |access-date=16 Mar 2025 |website=[[ACCC]]}}</ref> as well as the US and a handful of US States<ref>[[wikipedia:Open App Markets Act|Open App Markets Act]]</ref><ref>{{Cite web |date=20 Nov 2024 |title=S.5364 - App Store Accountability Act |url=https://www.congress.gov/bill/118th-congress/senate-bill/5364/text/is |url-status=live |archive-url=https://archive.ph/7yPxE |archive-date=7 Jan 2026 |access-date=16 Mar 2025 |website=[[congress.gov]]}}</ref><ref name="doj">{{Cite web |last=Balsamo |first=Mike |last2=Liedtke |first2=Mike |last3=Whitehurst |first3=Lindsay |last4=Bajak |first4=Frank |date=21 Mar 2024 |title=Justice Department sues Apple, alleging it illegally monopolized the smartphone market |url=https://apnews.com/article/apple-antitrust-monopoly-app-store-justice-department-822d7e8f5cf53a2636795fcc33ee1fc3 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://archive.ph/BB4Zn |archive-date=21 Mar 2024 |access-date=16 Mar 2025 |website=[[APNews]]}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |date=19 Feb 2021 |title=It’s time to free ourselves from ‘Big Tech’ monopoly |url=https://azcapitoltimes.com/news/2021/02/19/its-time-to-free-ourselves-from-big-tech-monopoly/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://archive.ph/bLDwu |archive-date=23 Feb 2021 |access-date=16 Mar 2025 |website=[[Arizona Capitol Times]]}}</ref> have opened investigations into anti-competitive practices as well as have considered or passed legislation to require "gatekeeper platforms" such as Apple to be more reasonable with third-party developers.

In response to such legislative measures, Apple has instituted geo-blocking operating system functionality based on physical location,<ref>{{Cite web |title=Eligibility |url=https://theapplewiki.com/wiki/Eligibility |url-status=live |archive-url=https://archive.ph/Df7hl |archive-date=7 Jan 2026 |access-date=16 Mar 2025 |website=[[The Apple Wiki]]}}</ref> misrepresenting/overstating risks, and using careful wording with commonly understood terms to describe unreasonably difficult-to-use systems.{{Citation needed}}

Unlike traditional software license purchases, Apple's App Store terms tie the license to a specific account, making it impossible for users to resell their licenses secondhand, buy apps secondhand, or inherit a license from a relative.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2014-02-10 |title=I can sell my apps? |url=https://discussions.apple.com/thread/5888894 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://archive.ph/DelOf |archive-date=7 Jan 2026 |access-date=2025-11-25 |website=Apple Community}}</ref> This system has since been copied by numerous other players in the media and digital goods sector.

==Background info==
Important terms in this article:

*'''[[wikipedia:Sandbox (computer security)|Sandbox]]''': Reduces the user's device/data exposure to security risks by reducing what an app is allowed to do.
*'''[https://theapplewiki.com/wiki/Entitlements Entitlements]''': Apple's method of "poking holes" in the sandbox to give the app more permissions. Some are available to developers, while many are only available to Apple.
*'''[[wikipedia:Digital Markets Act|Digital Markets Act]]''': The European Union's recent regulations targeted at large "Big Tech" companies, classified as "Gatekeepers," and aimed at creating a more fair level of competition in digital markets, particularly for small or emerging companies.

==In-app purchases==
Apple has been collecting users' credit card numbers since launching the iTunes Store in 2004. The launch of the App Store in 2008, followed by the introduction of in-app purchases (IAPs) in 2009, allowed iPhone app developers to sell app features to users. The IAP system is provided as a developer framework named [https://developer.apple.com/storekit/ StoreKit]. Apps and their in-app purchases are managed through a dashboard named [https://developer.apple.com/app-store-connect/ App Store Connect]. App sales have eclipsed iTunes Store sales and are now a primary focus of Apple's Media Services division.

Apple requires that any purchase of a digital good or service within an app use its in-app purchase system. This may seem reasonable because the customer may inevitably call Apple support, demanding a refund for an app they have issues with. Apple would rather provide a refund and leave the customer with a positive support experience than initiate a messy process involving contact with a third party, whose customer service is likely to be of a lower quality.

App Store purchase fees range from 15% to 30%. In September 2016, Apple expanded subscriptions to be available for any type of app, also introducing a 15% discount incentive for users who had already subscribed for a year.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Goode |first=Lauren |date=2 Sep 2016 |title=Apple’s new subscription offerings are now available to App Store developers |url=https://www.theverge.com/2016/9/2/12774758/apple-developers-app-store-new-subscription-rules |url-status=live |archive-url=https://archive.ph/KmJCn |archive-date=7 Jan 202 |access-date=16 Mar 2025 |website=[[The Verge]]}}</ref> In November 2020, Apple introduced a reduced 15% fee for app developers with annual revenue below $1 million.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Centers |first=Josh |date=18 Nov 2020 |title=Apple Drops App Store Commission to 15% for Small Developers |url=https://tidbits.com/2020/11/18/apple-drops-app-store-commission-to-15-for-small-developers/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://archive.ph/tt8Hs |archive-date=7 Jan 2026 |access-date=16 Mar 2025 |website=[[TidBITS]]}}</ref> For developers above this threshold, and for cases excluded from this program, such as for games, the fee is 30%. In the 2008 announcement of the App Store, Apple considered this a reasonable, industry-standard fee. However, the way we use apps has significantly evolved since 2009 - the world has shifted to heavily depend upon mobile apps, which have also evolved into more complex and sustainable business models than a simple one-time purchase.

[[wikipedia:Stripe, Inc.|Stripe]], a popular platform used for payments on the web, uses a base fee of 2.9% plus a fixed $0.30 in the United States.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Pricing |url=https://stripe.com/it/pricing |url-status=live |archive-url=https://archive.ph/FoCG4 |archive-date=7 Jan 2026 |access-date=16 Mar 2025 |website=[[Stripe]]}}</ref> With add-on services, before considering volume discounts, a Stripe transaction may have a cost of 6.4% + $1.10.<ref>Calculated from base fee (2.9% + $0.30) + international card (1.5%) + adaptive pricing (2%) + international payment methods ($0.80), as of January 2025</ref> Stripe has been used by businesses ranging from small online stores to [[OpenAI]] for ChatGPT Plus. Competing payment services have similar or identical fees to Stripe. '''The in-app purchase system does not provide sufficient value to justify the considerably higher costs compared to alternative payment platforms.'''

The App Store system poorly handles secondary marketplaces of digital services that exist within the primary App Store marketplace, such as Patreon. Apple, however, still requires companies in the business of selling digital services to use this inadequate system. This requires the app to account for Apple's fee, which is significant enough to warrant price increases frequently, and to follow rules even if they do not align with the nature of the service being provided. Apple has often been found in disputes with such apps. This injects extra complication at no benefit to the marketplace, the creator, or the customer - only to Apple, which has little to no involvement after delivering the initial app download to the user's phone. The significant fee also often drives app developers to consider building their app around an advertising model instead, creating privacy concerns.

Additionally, the 15% small business fee discount is determined based on the app's overall turnover and is not applied to individual creators within the app's marketplace. An app that generates over $1 million per year by providing services to creators who individually earn less than $1 million per year does not qualify for the discount.

Apple, often in conjunction with Google, engages in lobbying efforts in the United States and other countries to address these issues. "ACT | The App Association", pitched as an association of independent small business app developers, is at least 50% funded by Apple, and does not list its claimed 2,000 members.<ref>{{Cite web |date=1 Oct 2021 |title=Not a class ACT: the so-called App Association is simply an Apple Association and does NOT represent app developers' interests in fair distribution terms |url=https://www.fosspatents.com/2021/10/not-class-act-so-called-app-association.html |url-status=live |archive-url=https://archive.ph/eyn0i |archive-date=7 Jan 2026 |access-date=16 Mar 2025 |website=[[FOSS Patents]]}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |date=19 Sep 2022 |title=Vast majority of ACT {{!}} The App Association's funding comes from Apple, former employees tell Bloomberg: astroturfing against app developers' interests |url=https://www.fosspatents.com/2022/09/vast-majority-of-act-app-associations.html |url-status=live |archive-url=https://archive.ph/eGRNV |archive-date=7 Jan 2026 |access-date=16 Mar 2025 |website=[[FOSS Patents]]}}</ref> In March 2024, the United States Department of Justice, along with 16 state attorneys general, filed a lawsuit against Apple, alleging that the company "extracts more money from consumers, developers, content creators, artists, publishers, small businesses, and merchants, among others."<ref name="doj" /> The future of this lawsuit is unclear as of April 2025.

Despite criticism of Apple forcing its fee into transactions with small businesses and creators on platforms such as [[#Patreon|Patreon]] and [[#Facebook online events|Facebook]], on January 23, 2025, Apple announced the Advanced Commerce API. It "support[s] developers' evolving business models - such as extensive content catalogs, creator experiences, and subscriptions with optional add-ons".<ref>{{Cite web |date=23 Jan 2025 |title=Introducing the Advanced Commerce API |url=https://developer.apple.com/news/?id=yxy958ya |url-status=live |archive-url=https://archive.ph/KEH8h |archive-date=23 Jan 2025 |access-date=16 Mar 2025 |website=[[Apple Developer]]}}</ref> While positioned as a way for such businesses to save development time and avoid ongoing costs by building on top of Apple's mature payments platform, its use is, in fact, necessary for these businesses to comply with the App Store guidelines, as seen in the cases outlined below. The feature requires submitting a description of the app's business model to Apple for approval. This continues a trend of requiring Apple's consent to conduct business in a place where users have been trained to expect it.

===Epic Games===
{{hatnote|See also: [[wikipedia:Epic Games v. Apple|Epic Games v. Apple]] and [[wikipedia:Epic Games v. Google|Epic Games v. Google]]}}

[[Epic Games, Inc.]] is a video game developer and publisher, known for games such as [[Fortnite]] and [[Unreal Tournament]], the [[Unreal Engine]], and the [[Epic Games Store]].

In 2018, Epic Games launched Fortnite on the iOS and Android platforms. The company made the unusual decision not to release the app on the [[Google Play Store]] - instead, it was made available as a standalone [[wikipedia:apk (file format)|Android app package]] file (.apk), which must be installed by following a series of manual steps.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Statt |first=Nick |date=3 Aug 2018 |title=Fortnite for Android will ditch Google Play Store for Epic’s website |url=https://www.theverge.com/2018/8/3/17645982/epic-games-fortnite-android-version-bypass-google-play-store |url-status=live |archive-url=https://archive.ph/yTQLj |archive-date=16 Mar 2021 |access-date=1 May 2025 |website=[[The Verge]]}}</ref> The app was also released on the [[Samsung]] [[Samsung Galaxy Store|Galaxy Store]]. Google offered Epic Games a $147 million deal to release Fortnite on the Play Store, which the company declined.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Robertson |first=Adi |date=9 Nov 2023 |title=Google offered Epic $147 million to launch Fortnite on the Play Store |url=https://www.theverge.com/2023/11/8/23953262/google-epic-fortnite-play-store-investment-antitrust-trial |url-status=live |archive-url=https://archive.ph/poKzi |archive-date=9 Nov 2023 |access-date=1 May 2025 |website=[[The Verge]]}}</ref>

On 22 April 2020, Fortnite was finally released on the Play Store.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Carpenter |first=Nicole |date=22 April 2020 |title=Fortnite available on the Google Play Store for the first time |url=https://www.polygon.com/2020/4/21/21229930/fortnite-available-on-google-play-android-mobile-devices |url-status=live |archive-url=https://archive.ph/Z0huU |archive-date=13 Aug 2020 |access-date=1 May 2025 |website=[[Polygon]]}}</ref> In a statement, the company explained:

<blockquote>
After 18 months of operating Fortnite on Android outside of the Google Play Store, we've come to a basic realization: Google puts software downloadable outside of Google Play at a disadvantage, through technical and business measures such as scary, repetitive security pop-ups for downloaded and updated software, restrictive manufacturer and carrier agreements and dealings, Google public relations characterizing third party software sources as malware, and new efforts such as Google Play Protect to outright block software obtained outside the Google Play store.
</blockquote>

On 13 August 2020, Epic Games launched a campaign against both Apple and Google's app store business practices. The company released app updates on both platforms, introducing a method for purchasing V-Bucks, in-game currency, at a 20% discount by directly transacting with Epic Games, against the developer rules of both platforms. The platforms responded by removing the game from their storefronts. Epic Games then filed civil antitrust lawsuits against both companies in the Northern District of California.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Statt |first=Nick |date=14 Aug 2020 |title=Epic Games is suing Apple |url=https://www.theverge.com/2020/8/13/21367963/epic-fortnite-legal-complaint-apple-ios-app-store-removal-injunctive-relief |url-status=live |archive-url=https://archive.ph/vfFgU |archive-date=14 Aug 2020 |access-date=1 May 2025 |website=[[The Verge]]}}</ref> The campaign, branded "Free Fortnite", was later extended with lawsuits and complaints in Australia,<ref>{{Cite web |date=18 Nov 2020 |title=Epic Games extends its fight against Apple to Australia |url=https://www.epicgames.com/site/en-US/freefortnite-australia-press-release |url-status=live |access-date=16 Mar 2025 |website=[[Epic Games]] |archive-url=http://web.archive.org/web/20251219044545/https://www.epicgames.com/site/en-US/freefortnite-australia-press-release |archive-date=19 Dec 2025}}</ref> the European Union,<ref>{{Cite web |date=17 Feb 2021 |title=Epic Game Files EU Antitrust Complaint Against Apple |url=https://www.epicgames.com/site/en-US/news/epic-games-files-eu-antitrust-complaint-against-apple |url-status=live |archive-url=https://archive.ph/0Nqn7 |archive-date=26 May 2025 |access-date=16 Mar 2025 |website=[[Epic Games]]}}</ref> and the United Kingdom.<ref>{{Cite web |date=30 Mar 2021 |title=Epic Games files complaint to support CMA Apple investigation |url=https://www.epicgames.com/site/en-US/news/epic-games-files-complaint-to-support-cma-apple-investigation |url-status=live |archive-url=https://archive.ph/FMiCR |archive-date=7 Jan 2026 |access-date=16 Mar 2025 |website=[[Epic Games]]}}</ref>

On September 11, 2021, Judge Yvonne Gonzalez Rogers decided the case. While the lawsuit against Apple failed on nine of the ten counts, Rogers ruled against Apple's use of "anti-steering" - its strategy of preventing users from being "steered" to a third-party storefront for payment processing - and placed a permanent injunction on this behavior.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Brandon |first=Russell |date=11 Sep 2021 |title=Apple must allow other forms of in-app purchase, rules judge in Epic v. Apple |url=https://www.theverge.com/2021/9/10/22662320/epic-apple-ruling-injunction-judge-court-app-store |url-status=live |archive-url=https://archive.ph/gf9tJ |archive-date=10 Sep 2021 |access-date=1 May 2025 |website=[[The Verge]]}}</ref> Despite the case mostly failing, the discovery process provided significant insight into Apple's decision-making process regarding App Store policies, including decisions made in major app review disputes. In one case, executive Phil Schiller argued for reducing the fee by 30%.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Gurman |first=Mark |date=4 May 2021 |title=Apple’s Schiller Floated Cutting App Store Fees a Decade Ago |url=https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2021-05-03/apple-s-schiller-floated-cutting-app-store-fees-a-decade-ago |url-status=live |archive-url=https://archive.ph/R7Zus |archive-date=7 Jan 2026 |access-date=1 May 2025 |website=[[Bloomberg]]}}</ref>

Epic Games and Apple both appealed the decision. 35 state attorneys-general, the [[Electronic Frontier Foundation]] (EFF), [[Microsoft]], among others, filed amicus briefs in support of Epic Games.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Peters |first=Jay |date=29 Jan 2022 |title=Epic largely lost to Apple, but 35 states are now backing its fight in a higher court |url=https://www.theverge.com/2022/1/28/22907106/epic-games-v-apple-amicus-briefs-states-eff-microsoft-appeal |url-status=live |archive-url=https://archive.ph/P0TZY |archive-date=7 Jan 2026 |access-date=1 May 2025 |website=[[The Verge]]}}</ref>

On 11 December 2023, the jury in the case against Google decided on all 11 counts in favor of Epic Games.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Bensinger |first=Greg |last2=Scarcella |first2=Mike |date=13 Dec 2023 |title=Epic Games wins antitrust case against Google over Play app store |url=https://www.reuters.com/legal/google-epic-games-face-off-app-antitrust-trial-nears-end-2023-12-11/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://archive.ph/WaLBK |archive-date=12 Dec 2023 |access-date=1 May 2025 |website=[[Reuters]]}}</ref>

On 1 May 2025, Rogers found that Apple willfully chose not to comply with the 2021 injunction, commenting "that it thought this court would tolerate such insubordination was a gross miscalculation".<ref>{{Cite web |last=Peters |first=Jay |date=1 May 2025 |title=A judge just blew up Apple’s control of the App Store |url=https://www.theverge.com/news/659246/apple-epic-app-store-judge-ruling-control |url-status=live |archive-url=https://archive.ph/IThaV |archive-date=1 May 2025 |access-date=1 May 2025 |website=[[The Verge]]}}</ref>

===Facebook online events===
In August 2020, in response to the COVID-19 pandemic, Facebook introduced the ability for small businesses to accept an entrance fee for events. Previously, Facebook would only serve as a way to RSVP for an event; the organizer had to use a third-party event ticketing system to collect fees. The company pledged not to collect any fee on event sales "until 2023."<ref>{{Cite web |date=14 Aug 2020 |title=Paid Online Events for Small Business Recovery |url=https://about.fb.com/news/2020/08/paid-online-events/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://archive.ph/7X7KH |archive-date=6 Sep 2020 |access-date=16 Mar 2025 |website=[[Meta]]}}</ref>

Apple, however, requiring the feature to use an in-app purchases system. This introduced Apple's 30% fee. Because this increased the cost for end users and was not a fee imposed by the event holders, it was initially displayed as a line item upon check out. Apple argued that this disclosure was "irrelevant."<ref name="facebook" /> In the end, Facebook was allowed display the fee, but ''without'' stating that it was an App Store fee.

===HEY===
HEY.com is a paid webmail provider launched in June 2020 by long-time software company [[wikipedia:37signals|37signals]], specializing in inbox organization tools.

After successfully launching the initial version of the app on the App Store, the company announced that an update was rejected due to a complaint about the business model. The app does not support in-app purchases; instead, users are expected to have an account with the service already. Apple did not like this arrangement and demanded that the company build an in-app subscription option. The company argued that it is being held to a different set of rules than apps such as [[Netflix, Inc.|Netflix]], whose app does not provide any way to purchase a subscription.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Kastrenakes |first=Jacob |date=17 Jun 2020 |title=Hey.com exec says Apple is acting like ‘gangsters,’ rejecting App Store updates and demanding cut of sales |url=https://www.theverge.com/2020/6/16/21293419/hey-apple-rejection-ios-app-store-dhh-gangsters-antitrust |url-status=live |archive-url=https://archive.ph/OERP2 |archive-date=28 Jun 2020 |access-date=16 Mar 2025 |website=[[The Verge]]}}</ref> After a suggestion from Apple executive Phil Schiller in the media, HEY introduced a 14-day free trial mode, which was approved.<ref>https://www.hey.com/apple/path/ ([http://web.archive.org/web/20251114230238/https://www.hey.com/apple/path/ Archived])</ref><ref>https://techcrunch.com/2020/06/18/interview-apples-schiller-says-position-on-hey-app-is-unchanged-and-no-rules-changes-are-imminent/ ([http://web.archive.org/web/20251113115149/https://techcrunch.com/2020/06/18/interview-apples-schiller-says-position-on-hey-app-is-unchanged-and-no-rules-changes-are-imminent/ Archived])</ref>

===Patreon===
In August 2024, [[Patreon]] announced a change in arrangement with Apple for its App Store app. From November 2024, subscriptions started from the iOS app would be required to use the in-app purchase system, bypassing Patreon's own long-standing payment practices.<ref>{{Cite web |date=12 Aug 2024 |title=Apple’s requirements are about to hit creators and fans on Patreon. Here’s what you need to know. |url=https://news.patreon.com/articles/understanding-apple-requirements-for-patreon |url-status=live |archive-url=https://archive.ph/3Wid0 |archive-date=14 Aug 2024 |access-date=16 Mar 2025 |website=[[Patreon]]}}</ref><ref name="patreon" /> This change does not affect the Android app.

By forcing Patreon out of the payments pipeline, specific payment models are no longer available to users of Patreon's iOS app. Creators who rely on the "per-creation" payment model, as opposed to the standard "per-month", can no longer be subscribed to from the app. The app is also unable to support the "first-of-the-month" model, where payments from all subscribers are collected on the first day of the month, rather than every 30 days, since each member's subscription day varies. The price must also be rounded to a price tier supported by Apple.

Patreon allows creators to choose between increasing their prices by 30% in the iOS app or maintaining the same prices, forfeiting 30% to Apple. Creators frequently remind potential supporters not to use the Patreon iOS app, adding extra inconvenience to those wanting to support the work of small creators.

<gallery mode="packed" heights="400px">
File:Patreon iOS app pricing options - fee on top.png|"Maintain earnings and cover Apple's fee by increasing prices in the iOS app" (Recommended)
File:Patreon iOS app pricing options - absorb fee.png|"Keep prices in the iOS app the same and cover Apple's fee yourself."
</gallery>

A similar case occurred with the app Fanhouse in 2021.<ref>{{Cite web |last=@jasminericegirl |date=9 Jun 2021 |title=#fuckapple, a thread I cofounded @fanhouseapp 8 months ago to empower creators to monetize their content. We pay creators 90% of earnings. Now, Apple is threatening to remove Fanhouse from the app store unless we give them 30% of creator earnings. This is theft and exploitation. |url=https://x.com/jasminericegirl/status/1402691047940100100 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://archive.ph/U0qQw |archive-date=7 Jan 2026 |access-date=16 Mar 2025 |website=[[X]]}}</ref>

===Twitter===
In August 2021, [[Twitter]] introduced a feature named Super Follows (now Subscriptions), in which users can pay a subscription fee to access more of a creator's content. For each user who enables Subscriptions, Twitter must submit a new in-app purchase SKU to the App Store, which will become available with the next update to the app.<ref>{{Cite web |last=@wongmjane |date=2 Sep 2021 |title=Each Super Follow is an In-App Purchase on the App Store, but because there are too many IAPs for the Twitter app, the App Store only shows 10 instead of the full list |url=https://x.com/wongmjane/status/1433372120080261120 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://archive.ph/3gqwM |archive-date=7 Jan 2026 |access-date=16 Mar 2025 |website=[[X]]}}</ref> This, of course, is subject to the 30% fee. At the time of writing in January 2025, viewing the App Store listing reveals Elon Musk's $4.00 subscription as the fourth most popular IAP item.

==Notarization==
Since 2015, Apple has required all Mac apps to be "notarized." This is a preliminary, automated malware check, which, upon passing, provides a notary certificate that gets "stapled" to the app. Apple's explanation:

<blockquote>
Notarization of macOS software is not App Review. The Apple notary service is an automated system that scans your software for malicious content, checks for code-signing issues, and returns the results to you quickly. If there are no issues, the notary service generates a ticket for you to staple to your software; the notary service also publishes that ticket online where Gatekeeper can find it.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Notarizing macOS software before distribution |url=https://developer.apple.com/documentation/security/notarizing-macos-software-before-distribution |url-status=live |archive-url=https://archive.ph/H4EO9 |archive-date=26 Nov 2024 |access-date=16 Mar 2025 |website=[[Apple Developer]]}}</ref>
</blockquote>

Whether this approach is actually better than that used by Windows antivirus, which only detects new malware samples when they are already on a user's computer, is a separate topic.

To comply with the DMA's regulations on app marketplaces, Apple created a new channel for releasing apps outside of the iOS App Store. Apps go through a notarization process. But the process is definitely ''not'' notarization. The name is intentionally being abused, by contrast to notarization on macOS, to make you believe it is something other than the existing App Review system. Despite the pain some developers and users have with it, notarization on macOS has always been considered a net positive. It made sense to take advantage of its reputation for the entirely different "notarization" on iOS.

See for yourself - view the [https://developer.apple.com/app-store/review/guidelines/ App Review Guidelines] and tick "Show Notarization Review Guidelines Only". While this eliminates most rules, a significant number of them remain in place. These apps are still reviewed and tested by the App Review team, must have a complete product listing in App Store Connect, and can be outright rejected - all in the same way as an App Store app.

By contrast, all that is required for notarization on macOS is for your app not to be malware. You submit it to an automated system that approves it within minutes. '''You don't need to convince Apple that your app is worthy of existing on their platform.'''

The purpose of macOS notarization is that Apple maintains a record of all binaries intended for wide distribution on macOS, allowing it to review them both in advance and regularly for known malware/common malware patterns. If a malware app manages to get through, when Apple initially finds out, they can go back into the notary records and find every sample of that malware to analyze and block. This is a purely technical process, managed by skilled security researchers. At the same time, iOS app review and "notarization" are business processes managed by workers who have been given a checklist of violations to look for.

Apple is retaining complete control over what's allowed to run on iOS. On macOS, you can choose to run apps that have not been notarized (even though the process to bypass the warning is intentionally difficult). On iOS, you never get even that option. What Apple created is the App Store, but with more steps. It is still available on the App Store, but it is hidden so that it can only be installed through the third-party store it's tied to.

*Mysk: "iOS should enable alternative marketplaces to add their own links when users share their apps. Links still point to the App Store, and if the app is not available there, this happens."<ref>{{Cite web |last=@mysk_co |date=28 Jun 2024 |title=iOS should enable alternative marketplaces to add their own links when users share their apps. Links still point to the App Store and if the app is not available there, this happens: |url=https://x.com/mysk_co/status/1806638308455256242 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://archive.ph/DsQQH |archive-date=7 Jan 2026 |access-date=16 Mar 2025 |website=[[X]]}}</ref>

==JIT==
The following paragraph is highly technical: JIT allows for speedy programs/apps, and due to its fast nature, it's used almost everywhere and represents a massive improvement over older code interpreters.

[[wikipedia:Just-in-time compilation|JIT]], which stands for Just-In-Time, is a method of code execution where code, instead of being compiled before being distributed (like an EXE), gets compiled into machine code in real time right before being executed. This method of code execution allows for much faster website loading times, speedier emulation, faster program execution (with programs written in JavaScript, Python, Lua...) compared to interpreters, which instead translate code into machine code line by line, which is much, much slower; JIT also employs many more optimization techniques meant to improve performance.

Safari is allowed to use JIT to compile code from any site, just like Apple's [https://apps.apple.com/app/swift-playgrounds/id908519492 Playgrounds] app on iPad. Playgrounds bundle Apple's [[wikipedia:Swift (programming language)|Swift]] compiler and share backend code with the version of Playgrounds found in [[wikipedia:Xcode|Xcode]].

Third-party apps, such as Pythonista (a Python IDE), emulators like Delta and UTM, and terminal environments like iSH, are not allowed to use JIT; instead, they must interpret code, which results in severe performance degradation and increased computational expense, potentially draining more battery.

An example of apps being heavily affected by this restriction is UTM. UTM is a port of [[wikipedia:QEMU|QEMU]] for iOS, iPadOS, and macOS, allowing users to create [[wikipedia:Virtual_machine|VMs]] that can run various operating systems, such as Microsoft Windows. The iPhone's hardware is capable enough to emulate various modern OSes at full speed. Still, due to Apple's JIT limitation, the team behind UTM had to create UTM SE (slow edition), which doesn't require JIT but is nowhere near as fast as UTM with JIT, only being capable of running MS-DOS and derivatives at acceptable speeds. While methods that enable JIT for apps other than Safari and Playgrounds exist (some are currently working on iOS 18.5, like [https://apps.apple.com/us/app/stikdebug/id6744045754 StikDebug]), Apple does not allow the use of JIT in notarized apps, meaning that apps that support JIT will have to be sideloaded, which comes with its own set of restrictions.

In the EU, Apple permitted web browsers to use rendering and JavaScript engines other than the built-in with Apple WebKit/JavaScriptCore, with the option for JS engines to use JIT. The browser still needs to be approved by Apple for an entitlement and must then work within the APIs provided by Apple. However, as of January 2025, no browsers using engines different from the built-in ones have been released, primarily due to arbitrarily imposed restrictions intended to discourage the use and development of third-party engines.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Mozilla says Apple’s new browser rules are ‘as painful as possible’ for Firefox |url=https://www.theverge.com/2024/1/26/24052067/mozilla-apple-ios-browser-rules-firefox |url-status=live |archive-url=https://archive.ph/720xn |archive-date=26 Jan 2024 |access-date=16 Mar 2025 |website=[[The Verge]]}}</ref>

However, Apple still does not allow different engines outside of the EU, with or without JIT support.<ref>{{Cite web |title=App Review Guidelines |url=https://developer.apple.com/app-store/review/guidelines/#2.5.6 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://archive.ph/D9fQQ |archive-date=7 Jan 2026 |access-date=16 Mar 2025 |website=[[Apple Developer]]}}</ref>
==In-app browsers==
When apps want to display web content without opening the standalone Safari browser, app developers can use Apple’s [https://developer.apple.com/documentation/webkit/ WebKit] APIs, such as WKWebView. However, due to Apple’s [https://developer.apple.com/documentation/security/app-sandbox application sandboxing] and WebKit’s data-isolation model, web content loaded inside one app does not have access to Safari’s cookies, browsing history, saved sessions, or extensions, nor to data from other apps’ embedded web views. Each app’s embedded browser operates with its own isolated website data store.

As a result, web pages opened inside embedded browsers, such as those used in apps like Facebook, do not appear in Safari’s browsing history, and there is typically no persistent, user-accessible history within the app itself. Users may also be asked to sign in to the same services (for example, during OAuth login flows like Google) because cookies and session data are not shared with Safari. Additionally, Safari extensions, including content blockers, dark-mode tools, and other privacy or accessibility extensions, do not function inside embedded web views.

Apple states App Sandboxing "provides protection to system resources and user data by limiting your app’s access to resources requested through entitlements."<ref>{{Cite web |date=2025-01-12 |title=App Sandbox {{!}} Apple Developer Documentation |url=https://developer.apple.com/documentation/security/app-sandbox |url-status=live |archive-url=https://archive.ph/IkLXF |archive-date=2026-02-20 |access-date=2025-01-12 |website=Apple Developer}}</ref> However, developers have voiced frustration with how WebKit is sandboxed which can result in degraded user experiences, such as with repeated OAuth login flows between apps.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2025-01-12 |title=Impact of iOS 11 no longer providing shared cookies between Safari, Safari View Controller instances |url=https://github.com/openid/AppAuth-iOS/issues/120 |url-status=live |access-date=2025-01-12 |website=GitHub |archive-url=http://web.archive.org/web/20251113172345/https://github.com/openid/AppAuth-iOS/issues/120 |archive-date=13 Nov 2025}}</ref> Some developers have found workarounds for sharing information with the native Safari app, but it is unknown whether these methods still function in modern versions Apple's various operating systems.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Storey |first=Leon |date=2025-01-12 |title=Does WKWebView uses cookies from Safari? |url=https://stackoverflow.com/a/41486576 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20260218231045/https://stackoverflow.com/questions/40148060/does-wkwebview-uses-cookies-from-safari |archive-date=2026-02-18 |access-date=2025-01-12 |website=StackOverflow}}</ref>

==See also==
*[https://theapplewiki.com/wiki/Eligibility Eligibility]
*Posts written by the author of this article:
**[https://adamdemasi.com/2024/04/19/app-marketplace-experience.html The iOS 17.4 app marketplace flow is a disaster] ([https://web.archive.org/web/20251112051617/https://adamdemasi.com/2024/04/19/app-marketplace-experience.html Archived] 2025-11-12)
**[https://adamdemasi.com/2024/04/20/ios-eligibility.html How I tricked iOS into giving me EU DMA features] ([https://web.archive.org/web/20260112053403/https://adamdemasi.com/2024/04/20/ios-eligibility.html Archived] 2026-01-12)
**[https://adamdemasi.com/2024/04/23/ios-eligibility-features.html Features controlled by iOS 17.4's eligibility system] ([https://web.archive.org/web/20260112053400/https://adamdemasi.com/2024/04/23/ios-eligibility-features.html Archived] 2026-01-12)

==References==
<references />

[[Category:Apple App Store]]

2026-02-20T22:07:49Z

CopyeditorHF: Added a hyphen for "view-once"

{{ToneWarning}}
{{CompanyCargo
|Description=American instant messaging app used globally.
|Founded=2009
|Industry=Social Media, Messaging
|Logo=WhatsApp Logo green.svg
|ParentCompany=Meta
|Type=Subsidiary
|Website=https://www.whatsapp.com/
}}
'''{{Wplink|WhatsApp}}''' (officially '''WhatsApp Messenger''') is an American instant messaging (IM) and {{Wplink|Voice over IP|voice-over-IP}} (VoIP) service owned by technology conglomerate [[Meta]].

==Consumer impact summary==
{{Ph-C-CIS}}
'''User privacy:''' Collects and shares meta data, while competing apps intentionally collect less to avoid incursions on their users' privacy.<ref>{{Cite web |last1=Elkind |first1=Peter |last2=Gillum |first2=Jack |last3=Silverman |first3=Craig |title=How Facebook Undermines Privacy Protections for Its 2 Billion WhatsApp Users |url=https://www.propublica.org/article/how-facebook-undermines-privacy-protections-for-its-2-billion-whatsapp-users |website=ProPublica |date=7 Sep 2021 |access-date=6 Mar 2025 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210907090516/https://www.propublica.org/article/how-facebook-undermines-privacy-protections-for-its-2-billion-whatsapp-users |archive-date=7 Sep 2021}}</ref>

'''Market control:''' The combination of [[Facebook]], WhatsApp, and [[Instagram]], all owned by Meta, serves billions of active users.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Dixon |first=Stacy Jo |title=Most popular social networks worldwide as of April 2024, by number of monthly active users |url=https://www.statista.com/statistics/272014/global-social-networks-ranked-by-number-of-users/ |website=Statista |date=10 Jul 2024 |access-date=6 Mar 2025 |archive-url=https://archive.ph/wmIXV |archive-date=26 Aug 2024 |quote=''[...] Meta Platforms owns four of the biggest social media platforms, all with more than one billion monthly active users each: Facebook (core platform), WhatsApp, Facebook Messenger, and Instagram.''}}</ref>

==Incidents==
This is a list of all consumer protection incidents in which this company is involved. Any incidents not mentioned here can be found in the [[:Category:WhatsApp messenger|{{PAGENAME}} category]].

===Data lock-in===
[[File:WhatsApp suspended account hostage screen.png|thumb|upright|WhatsApp suspended account hostage screen]]
There are several instances of [[data lock-in]] in WhatsApp. For example, if WhatsApp staff suspends an account, the user is unable to access any messages stored on their device, unless they successfully appeal their suspension. This means WhatsApp staff has greater access to some of the data stored on devices of WhatsApp users than the device owners themselves. Such practices function similarly to {{Wplink|ransomware}}, a type of malware attack in which a user in unable to access some or all of their data on a device until a ransom is paid.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Gopal |first=Prarthana |title=How to fix the WhatsApp 'This account is not allowed to use WhatsApp' error |url=https://www.androidpolice.com/whatsapp-this-account-is-not-allowed-to-use-whatsapp-error-fix/ |website=Android Police |date=11 May 2024 |access-date=17 Feb 2026 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://archive.ph/e8bY9 |archive-date=11 Feb 2026}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Bhatacharjee |first=Sayani |title=How to Unban From WhatsApp Quickly and Regain Access (2024) |url=https://retainiq.io/blog/how-to-unban-from-whatsapp-quickly/ |website=RetainIQ |date=16 Sep 2024 |access-date=17 Feb 2026 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20241007151808/https://retainiq.io/blog/how-to-unban-from-whatsapp-quickly/ |archive-date=7 Oct 2024}}</ref>

Users are also unable access to their messaging history if they do not run a recent version. This means that users cannot read existing messages until an update has been completed. There are situations where users may not be able to update. These include being at a remote location with limited Internet access, exhaustion of one's mobile data plan, and having an older device where updating is not possible anymore because its operating system is no longer supported by a recent version of WhatsApp.

If a WhatsApp user has not used the service for four months, they are required to repeat the registration process before being able to access to their message history.<ref>{{Cite web |author=
|title=Seeing “You have been logged out” |url=https://faq.whatsapp.com/120604060995491 |website=WhatsApp |date= |access-date=17 Feb 2026 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://archive.is/0KH2m |archive-date=11 Feb 2026}}</ref> In addition, changing one's phone number means losing access to all existing messages that were not backed up in advance.

WhatsApp also lets the user back up their messages to their [[Google]] account, but they are stored in a way they can only be accessed from WhatsApp, not externally.<ref name="TechCrunch-20220809">{{Cite web |last=Hatmaker |first=Taylor |title=WhatsApp is adding new privacy options, including screenshot blocking and a stealth mode |url=https://techcrunch.com/2022/08/09/whatsapp-privacy-presence-control-screenshot-blocking/ |website=TechCrunch |date=9 Aug 2022 |access-date=17 Feb 2026 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://archive.is/iwDVH |archive-date=9 Aug 2022}}</ref>

WhatsApp provides a chat exporting feature which allows to export the entire chat history as a text file, optionally including media attachments, into a ZIP file. However, there is no way to export all messages at once. It has to be done for every contact and every group individually. Additionally, starting with an April 2025 update, exporting can be remotely disabled by the other participant through the "Advanced Chat Privacy" feature.

There are legitimate reasons for exporting chats, such as creating backups in a human-readable and non-proprietary format, preempting erroneous account terminations<nowiki></ref></nowiki>{{Cite web |last=Voit
|first=Karl |title=You Can't Control Your Data in the Cloud |url=https://karl-voit.at/cloud/ |website=public voit |date=12 Nov 2016 |access-date=17 Feb 2026 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20260202071758/https://karl-voit.at/cloud/ |archive-date=2 Feb 2026}}<nowiki></ref></nowiki>, searching using external tools, and preserving good memories with people, including those of deceased individuals.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Sheeran |first=Ed |title=Ed Sheeran - Old Phone (Official Music Video) |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rj5dxoMY-dE |website=[[YouTube]] |date=8 May 2025 |access-date=17 Feb 2025 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://preservetube.com/watch?v=rj5dxoMY-dE |archive-date=5 Sep 2025}}</ref>

The developers of WhatsApp have threatened to block [[screenshot blocking|screenshots]] inside chats with "advanced chat privacy" enabled:<ref>{{Cite web |last=Baran |first=Guru |title=WhatsApp’s New Advanced Chat Privacy Feature to Protect Sensitive Conversations |url=https://cybersecuritynews.com/whatsapp-advanced-chat-privacy-feature/ |website=Cyber Security News |date=24 Apr 2025 |access-date=17 Feb 2026 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://archive.ph/l0Byj |archive-date=7 Jul 2025}}</ref>
<blockquote>The company has stated that this is the first iteration of the feature, with plans to introduce even more robust protections in future updates, potentially including measures to block screenshots.
</blockquote>

==Mandatory updates==
WhatsApp requires users to use updated versions of the app by first giving them an in-app warning if they have not updated for a while. If the user still chooses not to update, usage of the app will be disabled entirely.{{Citation needed|reason=How long before this happens? Any screenshots?}} This can pose problems in certain cases, such as being in an area with poor or limited internet connectivity or using an older device that is no longer supported.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Coyle |first=Dylan R. |title=WhatsApp drops support for Android KitKat |url=https://www.androidpolice.com/whatsapp-support-android-kitkat/ |website=Android Police |date=24 Oct 2023 |access-date=17 Feb 2026 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231025193121/https://www.androidpolice.com/whatsapp-support-android-kitkat/ |archive-date=25 Oct 2023}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |author=Ro |title=WhatsApp to drop support for older Android devices on January 1, 2025 |url=https://www.gsmarena.com/whatsapp_to_drop_support_for_older_android_devices_on_january_1_2025-news-65834.php |website=GSMArena |date=22 Dec 2024 |access-date=17 Feb 2026 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://archive.ph/z9lWS |archive-date=11 Nov 2025}}</ref> 

===Message deletion and editing (''2017—'')===
Since late 2017, WhatsApp allows message senders delete messages for a limited duration after sending.<ref>{{Cite web |author=Himanshu |title=WhatsApp gets ability to delete messages |url=https://www.gsmarena.com/whatsapp_gets_ability_to_delete_messages-news-27955.php |website=GMSArena |date=27 Oct 2017 |access-date=17 Feb 2026 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180318124926/https://www.gsmarena.com/whatsapp_gets_ability_to_delete_messages-news-27955.php |archive-date=18 Mar 2018}}</ref> This time limit was extended, to slightly over an hour in 2018<ref>{{Cite web |author=Ricky |title=WhatsApp time limit for deleting messages increases to over an hour |url=https://www.gsmarena.com/whatsapp_time_limit_for_deleting_messages_increases_to_over_an_hour-news-30053.php |website=GSMArena |date=12 Mar 2018 |access-date=17 Feb 2026 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180313043109/https://www.gsmarena.com/whatsapp_time_limit_for_deleting_messages_increases_to_over_an_hour-news-30053.php |archive-date=13 Mar 2018}}</ref> and two and a half days in 2022.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Mehta |first=Ivan |title=WhatsApp extends time limit to delete a message to 60 hours |url=https://techcrunch.com/2022/08/09/whatsapp-extends-time-limit-to-delete-a-message-to-60-hours/ |website=TechCrunch |date=9 Aug 2022 |access-date=17 Feb 2026 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://archive.is/QRiLZ |archive-date=17 Feb 2026}}</ref> While there is a message noting that "This message was deleted," it is not possible to see what was contained in the message.

Additionally, since 2023, WhatsApp lets message senders edit messages for up to fifteen minutes after sending. When a message is edited by the sender, while it is noted the message has been edited, the recipient can no longer see the original message.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Schroeder |first=Stan |title=WhatsApp finally lets you edit messages, but you have to be fast |url=https://mashable.com/article/whatsapp-edit-messages-feature |website=Mashable |date=23 May 2023 |access-date=17 Feb 2026 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230523172541/https://mashable.com/article/whatsapp-edit-messages-feature |archive-date=23 May 2023}}</ref>

In effect, this WhatsApp feature allows the sender to remotely delete or edit existing information on the recipient's device without the consent of the recipient.

===Privacy policy update (''2021'')===
{{Main|WhatsApp updates privacy policy and millions of users flee the platform}}

There was widespread backlash over an upcoming privacy policy update related to the data-sharing procedures with Facebook. It outlined how businesses that use WhatsApp for customer service may store logs of their chats on Facebook servers.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Statt |first=Nick |title=WhatsApp clarifies it’s not giving all your data to Facebook after surge in Signal and Telegram users |url=https://www.theverge.com/2021/1/12/22226792/whatsapp-privacy-policy-response-signal-telegram-controversy-clarification |website=The Verge |date=12 Jan 2021 |access-date=6 Mar 2025 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210112161057/https://www.theverge.com/2021/1/12/22226792/whatsapp-privacy-policy-response-signal-telegram-controversy-clarification |archive-date=12 Jan 2021}}</ref> The update sparked a broader concern, prompting millions of users to abandon the platform.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Hern |first=Alex |title=WhatsApp loses millions of users after terms update |url=https://www.theguardian.com/technology/2021/jan/24/whatsapp-loses-millions-of-users-after-terms-update |website=The Guardian |date=24 Jan 2021 |access-date=6 Mar 2025 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210124165416/https://www.theguardian.com/technology/2021/jan/24/whatsapp-loses-millions-of-users-after-terms-update |archive-date=24 Jan 2021}}</ref>

===Disappearing messages (2021-2022)===
WhatsApp also introduced "view-once" messages in 2021 and disabled screen captures of them in 2022. "View-once" messages are deleted after being viewed.<ref name="TechCrunch-20220809" />

===Disabling screen captures of profile pictures (''2024—'')===
In March 2024, WhatsApp started disabling screen captures of profile pictures viewed in full screen to "protect the privacy" of its users. This made possible because mainstream mobile operating systems, [[Android]] and [[iOS]], let applications disable screen capturing on devices without the consent of the of device owners.<ref>{{Cite web |author= |title=About profile photo screenshot blocking |url=https://faq.whatsapp.com/1799783917198636 |website=WhatsApp |date= |access-date=17 Feb 2026 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://archive.ph/NfBAa |archive-date=22 Dec 2024}}</ref>

Profile pictures are not mandatory to use WhatsApp and are therefore images that a user has voluntarily made accessible on their profiles. As such, profile pictures are not private images.

===Introduction of advertising (''2025'')===
In June 2025, Meta announced that personalized ads would be introduced globally on WhatsApp.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Scharon|first=Harding |title=Ads are “rolling out gradually” to WhatsApp
|url=https://arstechnica.com/gadgets/2025/06/ads-are-rolling-out-gradually-to-whatsapp/ |website=Ars Technica |date=16 Jun 2025 |access-date=18 Jun 2025 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250616190958/https://arstechnica.com/gadgets/2025/06/ads-are-rolling-out-gradually-to-whatsapp/ |archive-date=16 Jun 2025}}</ref> Previously, Meta (then known as Facebook) stated in 2014, after it acquired the application:
<blockquote>''("[...] And you can still count on absolutely no ads interrupting your communication.")''.<ref>{{Cite web |author= |title=Facebook |url=https://blog.whatsapp.com/facebook |website=WhatsApp |date=19 Feb 2014 |access-date=18 Jun 2025 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250806121407/https://blog.whatsapp.com/facebook |archive-date=6 Aug 2025}}</ref></blockquote>

The personalized ads also utilize data from linked accounts on other Meta platforms.<ref>{{Cite web |author= |title=Helping You Find More Channels and Businesses on WhatsApp |url=https://about.fb.com/news/2025/06/helping-you-find-more-channels-businesses-on-whatsapp/ |website=[[Meta]] |date=16 Jun 2025 |access-date=17 Feb 2026 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://archive.ph/vErdo |archive-date=19 Jun 2025}}</ref>

==Alternatives==
*[https://www.signal.org Signal] offers most of the same features, and while [[Signal data collection|not without some issues]], the app is open source, relies on Privacy by Design, and is operated by a non-profit.

*[https://matrix.org/ Matrix] is more private and uses a federated design, but setup is slightly more involved than that of a commercial messenger.

*[https://telegram.org/ Telegram] is the most popular alternative and is end-user-friendly, with minimal content moderation. Prior to a September 2024 policy change, it refused to hand over user data to law enforcement upon request.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Jamali |first=Lily |title=Telegram will now provide some user data to authorities |url=https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/cvglp0xny3eo |website=BBC |date=23 Sep 2024 |access-date=22 Jul 2025 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240923225048/https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/cvglp0xny3eo |archive-date=23 Sep 2024}}</ref>

==References==
{{Reflist}}

[[Category:WhatsApp messenger]]

2026-02-20T22:06:24Z

CopyeditorHF: Broke up and reworded "Moral arbitration" section into "Disappearing messages" and "Disabling screen capture of profile pictures" in order to present policies in a more descriptive/neutral manner.

{{ToneWarning}}
{{CompanyCargo
|Description=American instant messaging app used globally.
|Founded=2009
|Industry=Social Media, Messaging
|Logo=WhatsApp Logo green.svg
|ParentCompany=Meta
|Type=Subsidiary
|Website=https://www.whatsapp.com/
}}
'''{{Wplink|WhatsApp}}''' (officially '''WhatsApp Messenger''') is an American instant messaging (IM) and {{Wplink|Voice over IP|voice-over-IP}} (VoIP) service owned by technology conglomerate [[Meta]].

==Consumer impact summary==
{{Ph-C-CIS}}
'''User privacy:''' Collects and shares meta data, while competing apps intentionally collect less to avoid incursions on their users' privacy.<ref>{{Cite web |last1=Elkind |first1=Peter |last2=Gillum |first2=Jack |last3=Silverman |first3=Craig |title=How Facebook Undermines Privacy Protections for Its 2 Billion WhatsApp Users |url=https://www.propublica.org/article/how-facebook-undermines-privacy-protections-for-its-2-billion-whatsapp-users |website=ProPublica |date=7 Sep 2021 |access-date=6 Mar 2025 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210907090516/https://www.propublica.org/article/how-facebook-undermines-privacy-protections-for-its-2-billion-whatsapp-users |archive-date=7 Sep 2021}}</ref>

'''Market control:''' The combination of [[Facebook]], WhatsApp, and [[Instagram]], all owned by Meta, serves billions of active users.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Dixon |first=Stacy Jo |title=Most popular social networks worldwide as of April 2024, by number of monthly active users |url=https://www.statista.com/statistics/272014/global-social-networks-ranked-by-number-of-users/ |website=Statista |date=10 Jul 2024 |access-date=6 Mar 2025 |archive-url=https://archive.ph/wmIXV |archive-date=26 Aug 2024 |quote=''[...] Meta Platforms owns four of the biggest social media platforms, all with more than one billion monthly active users each: Facebook (core platform), WhatsApp, Facebook Messenger, and Instagram.''}}</ref>

==Incidents==
This is a list of all consumer protection incidents in which this company is involved. Any incidents not mentioned here can be found in the [[:Category:WhatsApp messenger|{{PAGENAME}} category]].

===Data lock-in===
[[File:WhatsApp suspended account hostage screen.png|thumb|upright|WhatsApp suspended account hostage screen]]
There are several instances of [[data lock-in]] in WhatsApp. For example, if WhatsApp staff suspends an account, the user is unable to access any messages stored on their device, unless they successfully appeal their suspension. This means WhatsApp staff has greater access to some of the data stored on devices of WhatsApp users than the device owners themselves. Such practices function similarly to {{Wplink|ransomware}}, a type of malware attack in which a user in unable to access some or all of their data on a device until a ransom is paid.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Gopal |first=Prarthana |title=How to fix the WhatsApp 'This account is not allowed to use WhatsApp' error |url=https://www.androidpolice.com/whatsapp-this-account-is-not-allowed-to-use-whatsapp-error-fix/ |website=Android Police |date=11 May 2024 |access-date=17 Feb 2026 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://archive.ph/e8bY9 |archive-date=11 Feb 2026}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Bhatacharjee |first=Sayani |title=How to Unban From WhatsApp Quickly and Regain Access (2024) |url=https://retainiq.io/blog/how-to-unban-from-whatsapp-quickly/ |website=RetainIQ |date=16 Sep 2024 |access-date=17 Feb 2026 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20241007151808/https://retainiq.io/blog/how-to-unban-from-whatsapp-quickly/ |archive-date=7 Oct 2024}}</ref>

Users are also unable access to their messaging history if they do not run a recent version. This means that users cannot read existing messages until an update has been completed. There are situations where users may not be able to update. These include being at a remote location with limited Internet access, exhaustion of one's mobile data plan, and having an older device where updating is not possible anymore because its operating system is no longer supported by a recent version of WhatsApp.

If a WhatsApp user has not used the service for four months, they are required to repeat the registration process before being able to access to their message history.<ref>{{Cite web |author=
|title=Seeing “You have been logged out” |url=https://faq.whatsapp.com/120604060995491 |website=WhatsApp |date= |access-date=17 Feb 2026 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://archive.is/0KH2m |archive-date=11 Feb 2026}}</ref> In addition, changing one's phone number means losing access to all existing messages that were not backed up in advance.

WhatsApp also lets the user back up their messages to their [[Google]] account, but they are stored in a way they can only be accessed from WhatsApp, not externally.<ref name="TechCrunch-20220809">{{Cite web |last=Hatmaker |first=Taylor |title=WhatsApp is adding new privacy options, including screenshot blocking and a stealth mode |url=https://techcrunch.com/2022/08/09/whatsapp-privacy-presence-control-screenshot-blocking/ |website=TechCrunch |date=9 Aug 2022 |access-date=17 Feb 2026 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://archive.is/iwDVH |archive-date=9 Aug 2022}}</ref>

WhatsApp provides a chat exporting feature which allows to export the entire chat history as a text file, optionally including media attachments, into a ZIP file. However, there is no way to export all messages at once. It has to be done for every contact and every group individually. Additionally, starting with an April 2025 update, exporting can be remotely disabled by the other participant through the "Advanced Chat Privacy" feature.

There are legitimate reasons for exporting chats, such as creating backups in a human-readable and non-proprietary format, preempting erroneous account terminations<nowiki></ref></nowiki>{{Cite web |last=Voit
|first=Karl |title=You Can't Control Your Data in the Cloud |url=https://karl-voit.at/cloud/ |website=public voit |date=12 Nov 2016 |access-date=17 Feb 2026 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20260202071758/https://karl-voit.at/cloud/ |archive-date=2 Feb 2026}}<nowiki></ref></nowiki>, searching using external tools, and preserving good memories with people, including those of deceased individuals.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Sheeran |first=Ed |title=Ed Sheeran - Old Phone (Official Music Video) |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rj5dxoMY-dE |website=[[YouTube]] |date=8 May 2025 |access-date=17 Feb 2025 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://preservetube.com/watch?v=rj5dxoMY-dE |archive-date=5 Sep 2025}}</ref>

The developers of WhatsApp have threatened to block [[screenshot blocking|screenshots]] inside chats with "advanced chat privacy" enabled:<ref>{{Cite web |last=Baran |first=Guru |title=WhatsApp’s New Advanced Chat Privacy Feature to Protect Sensitive Conversations |url=https://cybersecuritynews.com/whatsapp-advanced-chat-privacy-feature/ |website=Cyber Security News |date=24 Apr 2025 |access-date=17 Feb 2026 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://archive.ph/l0Byj |archive-date=7 Jul 2025}}</ref>
<blockquote>The company has stated that this is the first iteration of the feature, with plans to introduce even more robust protections in future updates, potentially including measures to block screenshots.
</blockquote>

==Mandatory updates==
WhatsApp requires users to use updated versions of the app by first giving them an in-app warning if they have not updated for a while. If the user still chooses not to update, usage of the app will be disabled entirely.{{Citation needed|reason=How long before this happens? Any screenshots?}} This can pose problems in certain cases, such as being in an area with poor or limited internet connectivity or using an older device that is no longer supported.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Coyle |first=Dylan R. |title=WhatsApp drops support for Android KitKat |url=https://www.androidpolice.com/whatsapp-support-android-kitkat/ |website=Android Police |date=24 Oct 2023 |access-date=17 Feb 2026 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231025193121/https://www.androidpolice.com/whatsapp-support-android-kitkat/ |archive-date=25 Oct 2023}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |author=Ro |title=WhatsApp to drop support for older Android devices on January 1, 2025 |url=https://www.gsmarena.com/whatsapp_to_drop_support_for_older_android_devices_on_january_1_2025-news-65834.php |website=GSMArena |date=22 Dec 2024 |access-date=17 Feb 2026 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://archive.ph/z9lWS |archive-date=11 Nov 2025}}</ref> 

===Message deletion and editing (''2017—'')===
Since late 2017, WhatsApp allows message senders delete messages for a limited duration after sending.<ref>{{Cite web |author=Himanshu |title=WhatsApp gets ability to delete messages |url=https://www.gsmarena.com/whatsapp_gets_ability_to_delete_messages-news-27955.php |website=GMSArena |date=27 Oct 2017 |access-date=17 Feb 2026 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180318124926/https://www.gsmarena.com/whatsapp_gets_ability_to_delete_messages-news-27955.php |archive-date=18 Mar 2018}}</ref> This time limit was extended, to slightly over an hour in 2018<ref>{{Cite web |author=Ricky |title=WhatsApp time limit for deleting messages increases to over an hour |url=https://www.gsmarena.com/whatsapp_time_limit_for_deleting_messages_increases_to_over_an_hour-news-30053.php |website=GSMArena |date=12 Mar 2018 |access-date=17 Feb 2026 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180313043109/https://www.gsmarena.com/whatsapp_time_limit_for_deleting_messages_increases_to_over_an_hour-news-30053.php |archive-date=13 Mar 2018}}</ref> and two and a half days in 2022.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Mehta |first=Ivan |title=WhatsApp extends time limit to delete a message to 60 hours |url=https://techcrunch.com/2022/08/09/whatsapp-extends-time-limit-to-delete-a-message-to-60-hours/ |website=TechCrunch |date=9 Aug 2022 |access-date=17 Feb 2026 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://archive.is/QRiLZ |archive-date=17 Feb 2026}}</ref> While there is a message noting that "This message was deleted," it is not possible to see what was contained in the message.

Additionally, since 2023, WhatsApp lets message senders edit messages for up to fifteen minutes after sending. When a message is edited by the sender, while it is noted the message has been edited, the recipient can no longer see the original message.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Schroeder |first=Stan |title=WhatsApp finally lets you edit messages, but you have to be fast |url=https://mashable.com/article/whatsapp-edit-messages-feature |website=Mashable |date=23 May 2023 |access-date=17 Feb 2026 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230523172541/https://mashable.com/article/whatsapp-edit-messages-feature |archive-date=23 May 2023}}</ref>

In effect, this WhatsApp feature allows the sender to remotely delete or edit existing information on the recipient's device without the consent of the recipient.

===Privacy policy update (''2021'')===
{{Main|WhatsApp updates privacy policy and millions of users flee the platform}}

There was widespread backlash over an upcoming privacy policy update related to the data-sharing procedures with Facebook. It outlined how businesses that use WhatsApp for customer service may store logs of their chats on Facebook servers.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Statt |first=Nick |title=WhatsApp clarifies it’s not giving all your data to Facebook after surge in Signal and Telegram users |url=https://www.theverge.com/2021/1/12/22226792/whatsapp-privacy-policy-response-signal-telegram-controversy-clarification |website=The Verge |date=12 Jan 2021 |access-date=6 Mar 2025 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210112161057/https://www.theverge.com/2021/1/12/22226792/whatsapp-privacy-policy-response-signal-telegram-controversy-clarification |archive-date=12 Jan 2021}}</ref> The update sparked a broader concern, prompting millions of users to abandon the platform.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Hern |first=Alex |title=WhatsApp loses millions of users after terms update |url=https://www.theguardian.com/technology/2021/jan/24/whatsapp-loses-millions-of-users-after-terms-update |website=The Guardian |date=24 Jan 2021 |access-date=6 Mar 2025 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210124165416/https://www.theguardian.com/technology/2021/jan/24/whatsapp-loses-millions-of-users-after-terms-update |archive-date=24 Jan 2021}}</ref>

=== Disappearing messages (2021-2022) ===
WhatsApp also introduced "view-once" messages in 2021 and disabled screen captures of them in 2022. "View once" messages are deleted after being viewed.<ref name="TechCrunch-20220809" />

===Disabling screen captures of profile pictures (''2024—'')===
In March 2024, WhatsApp started disabling screen captures of profile pictures viewed in full screen to "protect the privacy" of its users. This made possible because mainstream mobile operating systems, [[Android]] and [[iOS]], let applications disable screen capturing on devices without the consent of the of device owners.<ref>{{Cite web |author= |title=About profile photo screenshot blocking |url=https://faq.whatsapp.com/1799783917198636 |website=WhatsApp |date= |access-date=17 Feb 2026 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://archive.ph/NfBAa |archive-date=22 Dec 2024}}</ref>

Profile pictures are not mandatory to use WhatsApp and are therefore images that a user has voluntarily made accessible on their profiles. As such, profile pictures are not private images.

===Introduction of advertising (''2025'')===
In June 2025, Meta announced that personalized ads would be introduced globally on WhatsApp.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Scharon|first=Harding |title=Ads are “rolling out gradually” to WhatsApp
|url=https://arstechnica.com/gadgets/2025/06/ads-are-rolling-out-gradually-to-whatsapp/ |website=Ars Technica |date=16 Jun 2025 |access-date=18 Jun 2025 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250616190958/https://arstechnica.com/gadgets/2025/06/ads-are-rolling-out-gradually-to-whatsapp/ |archive-date=16 Jun 2025}}</ref> Previously, Meta (then known as Facebook) stated in 2014, after it acquired the application:
<blockquote>''("[...] And you can still count on absolutely no ads interrupting your communication.")''.<ref>{{Cite web |author= |title=Facebook |url=https://blog.whatsapp.com/facebook |website=WhatsApp |date=19 Feb 2014 |access-date=18 Jun 2025 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250806121407/https://blog.whatsapp.com/facebook |archive-date=6 Aug 2025}}</ref></blockquote>

The personalized ads also utilize data from linked accounts on other Meta platforms.<ref>{{Cite web |author= |title=Helping You Find More Channels and Businesses on WhatsApp |url=https://about.fb.com/news/2025/06/helping-you-find-more-channels-businesses-on-whatsapp/ |website=[[Meta]] |date=16 Jun 2025 |access-date=17 Feb 2026 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://archive.ph/vErdo |archive-date=19 Jun 2025}}</ref>

==Alternatives==
*[https://www.signal.org Signal] offers most of the same features, and while [[Signal data collection|not without some issues]], the app is open source, relies on Privacy by Design, and is operated by a non-profit.

*[https://matrix.org/ Matrix] is more private and uses a federated design, but setup is slightly more involved than that of a commercial messenger.

*[https://telegram.org/ Telegram] is the most popular alternative and is end-user-friendly, with minimal content moderation. Prior to a September 2024 policy change, it refused to hand over user data to law enforcement upon request.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Jamali |first=Lily |title=Telegram will now provide some user data to authorities |url=https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/cvglp0xny3eo |website=BBC |date=23 Sep 2024 |access-date=22 Jul 2025 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240923225048/https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/cvglp0xny3eo |archive-date=23 Sep 2024}}</ref>

==References==
{{Reflist}}

[[Category:WhatsApp messenger]]

2026-02-20T21:48:21Z

CopyeditorHF: /* Data lock-in */ Tonal edits. Information was reworded to present the information in a more neutral way

{{ToneWarning}}
{{CompanyCargo
|Description=American instant messaging app used globally.
|Founded=2009
|Industry=Social Media, Messaging
|Logo=WhatsApp Logo green.svg
|ParentCompany=Meta
|Type=Subsidiary
|Website=https://www.whatsapp.com/
}}
'''{{Wplink|WhatsApp}}''' (officially '''WhatsApp Messenger''') is an American instant messaging (IM) and {{Wplink|Voice over IP|voice-over-IP}} (VoIP) service owned by technology conglomerate [[Meta]].

==Consumer impact summary==
{{Ph-C-CIS}}
'''User privacy:''' Collects and shares meta data, while competing apps intentionally collect less to avoid incursions on their users' privacy.<ref>{{Cite web |last1=Elkind |first1=Peter |last2=Gillum |first2=Jack |last3=Silverman |first3=Craig |title=How Facebook Undermines Privacy Protections for Its 2 Billion WhatsApp Users |url=https://www.propublica.org/article/how-facebook-undermines-privacy-protections-for-its-2-billion-whatsapp-users |website=ProPublica |date=7 Sep 2021 |access-date=6 Mar 2025 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210907090516/https://www.propublica.org/article/how-facebook-undermines-privacy-protections-for-its-2-billion-whatsapp-users |archive-date=7 Sep 2021}}</ref>

'''Market control:''' The combination of [[Facebook]], WhatsApp, and [[Instagram]], all owned by Meta, serves billions of active users.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Dixon |first=Stacy Jo |title=Most popular social networks worldwide as of April 2024, by number of monthly active users |url=https://www.statista.com/statistics/272014/global-social-networks-ranked-by-number-of-users/ |website=Statista |date=10 Jul 2024 |access-date=6 Mar 2025 |archive-url=https://archive.ph/wmIXV |archive-date=26 Aug 2024 |quote=''[...] Meta Platforms owns four of the biggest social media platforms, all with more than one billion monthly active users each: Facebook (core platform), WhatsApp, Facebook Messenger, and Instagram.''}}</ref>

==Incidents==
This is a list of all consumer protection incidents in which this company is involved. Any incidents not mentioned here can be found in the [[:Category:WhatsApp messenger|{{PAGENAME}} category]].

===Data lock-in===
[[File:WhatsApp suspended account hostage screen.png|thumb|upright|WhatsApp suspended account hostage screen]]
There are several instances of [[data lock-in]] in WhatsApp. For example, if WhatsApp staff suspends an account, the user is unable to access any messages stored on their device, unless they successfully appeal their suspension. This means WhatsApp staff has greater access to some of the data stored on devices of WhatsApp users than the device owners themselves. Such practices function similarly to {{Wplink|ransomware}}, a type of malware attack in which a user in unable to access some or all of their data on a device until a ransom is paid.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Gopal |first=Prarthana |title=How to fix the WhatsApp 'This account is not allowed to use WhatsApp' error |url=https://www.androidpolice.com/whatsapp-this-account-is-not-allowed-to-use-whatsapp-error-fix/ |website=Android Police |date=11 May 2024 |access-date=17 Feb 2026 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://archive.ph/e8bY9 |archive-date=11 Feb 2026}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Bhatacharjee |first=Sayani |title=How to Unban From WhatsApp Quickly and Regain Access (2024) |url=https://retainiq.io/blog/how-to-unban-from-whatsapp-quickly/ |website=RetainIQ |date=16 Sep 2024 |access-date=17 Feb 2026 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20241007151808/https://retainiq.io/blog/how-to-unban-from-whatsapp-quickly/ |archive-date=7 Oct 2024}}</ref>

Users are also unable access to their messaging history if they do not run a recent version. This means that users cannot read existing messages until an update has been completed. There are situations where users may not be able to update. These include being at a remote location with limited Internet access, exhaustion of one's mobile data plan, and having an older device where updating is not possible anymore because its operating system is no longer supported by a recent version of WhatsApp.

If a WhatsApp user has not used the service for four months, they are required to repeat the registration process before being able to access to their message history.<ref>{{Cite web |author=
|title=Seeing “You have been logged out” |url=https://faq.whatsapp.com/120604060995491 |website=WhatsApp |date= |access-date=17 Feb 2026 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://archive.is/0KH2m |archive-date=11 Feb 2026}}</ref> In addition, changing one's phone number means losing access to all existing messages that were not backed up in advance.

WhatsApp also lets the user back up their messages to their [[Google]] account, but they are stored in a way they can only be accessed from WhatsApp, not externally.<ref name="TechCrunch-20220809">{{Cite web |last=Hatmaker |first=Taylor |title=WhatsApp is adding new privacy options, including screenshot blocking and a stealth mode |url=https://techcrunch.com/2022/08/09/whatsapp-privacy-presence-control-screenshot-blocking/ |website=TechCrunch |date=9 Aug 2022 |access-date=17 Feb 2026 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://archive.is/iwDVH |archive-date=9 Aug 2022}}</ref>

WhatsApp provides a chat exporting feature which allows to export the entire chat history as a text file, optionally including media attachments, into a ZIP file. However, there is no way to export all messages at once. It has to be done for every contact and every group individually. Additionally, starting with an April 2025 update, exporting can be remotely disabled by the other participant through the "Advanced Chat Privacy" feature.

There are legitimate reasons for exporting chats, such as creating backups in a human-readable and non-proprietary format, preempting erroneous account terminations<nowiki></ref></nowiki>{{Cite web |last=Voit
|first=Karl |title=You Can't Control Your Data in the Cloud |url=https://karl-voit.at/cloud/ |website=public voit |date=12 Nov 2016 |access-date=17 Feb 2026 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20260202071758/https://karl-voit.at/cloud/ |archive-date=2 Feb 2026}}<nowiki></ref></nowiki>, searching using external tools, and preserving good memories with people, including those of deceased individuals.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Sheeran |first=Ed |title=Ed Sheeran - Old Phone (Official Music Video) |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rj5dxoMY-dE |website=[[YouTube]] |date=8 May 2025 |access-date=17 Feb 2025 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://preservetube.com/watch?v=rj5dxoMY-dE |archive-date=5 Sep 2025}}</ref>

The developers of WhatsApp have threatened to block [[screenshot blocking|screenshots]] inside chats with "advanced chat privacy" enabled:<ref>{{Cite web |last=Baran |first=Guru |title=WhatsApp’s New Advanced Chat Privacy Feature to Protect Sensitive Conversations |url=https://cybersecuritynews.com/whatsapp-advanced-chat-privacy-feature/ |website=Cyber Security News |date=24 Apr 2025 |access-date=17 Feb 2026 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://archive.ph/l0Byj |archive-date=7 Jul 2025}}</ref>
<blockquote>The company has stated that this is the first iteration of the feature, with plans to introduce even more robust protections in future updates, potentially including measures to block screenshots.
</blockquote>

==Mandatory updates==
WhatsApp requires users to use updated versions of the app by first giving them an in-app warning if they have not updated for a while. If the user still chooses not to update, usage of the app will be disabled entirely.{{Citation needed|reason=How long before this happens? Any screenshots?}} This can pose problems in certain cases, such as being in an area with poor or limited internet connectivity or using an older device that is no longer supported.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Coyle |first=Dylan R. |title=WhatsApp drops support for Android KitKat |url=https://www.androidpolice.com/whatsapp-support-android-kitkat/ |website=Android Police |date=24 Oct 2023 |access-date=17 Feb 2026 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231025193121/https://www.androidpolice.com/whatsapp-support-android-kitkat/ |archive-date=25 Oct 2023}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |author=Ro |title=WhatsApp to drop support for older Android devices on January 1, 2025 |url=https://www.gsmarena.com/whatsapp_to_drop_support_for_older_android_devices_on_january_1_2025-news-65834.php |website=GSMArena |date=22 Dec 2024 |access-date=17 Feb 2026 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://archive.ph/z9lWS |archive-date=11 Nov 2025}}</ref> 

===Message deletion and editing (''2017—'')===
Since late 2017, WhatsApp allows message senders delete messages for a limited duration after sending.<ref>{{Cite web |author=Himanshu |title=WhatsApp gets ability to delete messages |url=https://www.gsmarena.com/whatsapp_gets_ability_to_delete_messages-news-27955.php |website=GMSArena |date=27 Oct 2017 |access-date=17 Feb 2026 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180318124926/https://www.gsmarena.com/whatsapp_gets_ability_to_delete_messages-news-27955.php |archive-date=18 Mar 2018}}</ref> This time limit was extended, to slightly over an hour in 2018<ref>{{Cite web |author=Ricky |title=WhatsApp time limit for deleting messages increases to over an hour |url=https://www.gsmarena.com/whatsapp_time_limit_for_deleting_messages_increases_to_over_an_hour-news-30053.php |website=GSMArena |date=12 Mar 2018 |access-date=17 Feb 2026 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180313043109/https://www.gsmarena.com/whatsapp_time_limit_for_deleting_messages_increases_to_over_an_hour-news-30053.php |archive-date=13 Mar 2018}}</ref> and two and a half days in 2022.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Mehta |first=Ivan |title=WhatsApp extends time limit to delete a message to 60 hours |url=https://techcrunch.com/2022/08/09/whatsapp-extends-time-limit-to-delete-a-message-to-60-hours/ |website=TechCrunch |date=9 Aug 2022 |access-date=17 Feb 2026 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://archive.is/QRiLZ |archive-date=17 Feb 2026}}</ref> While there is a message noting that "This message was deleted," it is not possible to see what was contained in the message.

Additionally, since 2023, WhatsApp lets message senders edit messages for up to fifteen minutes after sending. When a message is edited by the sender, while it is noted the message has been edited, the recipient can no longer see the original message.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Schroeder |first=Stan |title=WhatsApp finally lets you edit messages, but you have to be fast |url=https://mashable.com/article/whatsapp-edit-messages-feature |website=Mashable |date=23 May 2023 |access-date=17 Feb 2026 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230523172541/https://mashable.com/article/whatsapp-edit-messages-feature |archive-date=23 May 2023}}</ref>

In effect, this WhatsApp feature allows the sender to remotely delete or edit existing information on the recipient's device without the consent of the recipient.

===Privacy policy update (''2021'')===
{{Main|WhatsApp updates privacy policy and millions of users flee the platform}}

There was widespread backlash over an upcoming privacy policy update related to the data-sharing procedures with Facebook. It outlined how businesses that use WhatsApp for customer service may store logs of their chats on Facebook servers.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Statt |first=Nick |title=WhatsApp clarifies it’s not giving all your data to Facebook after surge in Signal and Telegram users |url=https://www.theverge.com/2021/1/12/22226792/whatsapp-privacy-policy-response-signal-telegram-controversy-clarification |website=The Verge |date=12 Jan 2021 |access-date=6 Mar 2025 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210112161057/https://www.theverge.com/2021/1/12/22226792/whatsapp-privacy-policy-response-signal-telegram-controversy-clarification |archive-date=12 Jan 2021}}</ref> The update sparked a broader concern, prompting millions of users to abandon the platform.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Hern |first=Alex |title=WhatsApp loses millions of users after terms update |url=https://www.theguardian.com/technology/2021/jan/24/whatsapp-loses-millions-of-users-after-terms-update |website=The Guardian |date=24 Jan 2021 |access-date=6 Mar 2025 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210124165416/https://www.theguardian.com/technology/2021/jan/24/whatsapp-loses-millions-of-users-after-terms-update |archive-date=24 Jan 2021}}</ref>

===Moral arbitration (''2024—'')===
WhatsApp has used its dominant market share to act as a self-appointed moral arbiter.

In March 2024, WhatsApp started disabling screen captures of profile pictures viewed in full screen, supposedly to "protect the privacy" of its users. This only is possible because the mainstream mobile operating systems, [[Android]] and [[iOS]], let applications disable screen capturing against the will of device owners.<ref>{{Cite web |author= |title=About profile photo screenshot blocking |url=https://faq.whatsapp.com/1799783917198636 |website=WhatsApp |date= |access-date=17 Feb 2026 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://archive.ph/NfBAa |archive-date=22 Dec 2024}}</ref>

Profile picture screenshots are no privacy violation, given that they are something users voluntarily choose to make public on a visible spot of their profiles, and never were a mandatory requirement to be able to use WhatsApp. It should also be noted that WhatsApp is ironically operated by a data harvesting company (Meta, Inc.).

WhatsApp also introduced "view-once" messages in 2021 and disabled screen captures of them in 2022. "View once" messages are forcibly deleted after being viewed.<ref name="TechCrunch-20220809" />

===Introduction of advertising (''2025'')===
In June 2025, Meta announced that personalized ads would be introduced globally on WhatsApp.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Scharon|first=Harding |title=Ads are “rolling out gradually” to WhatsApp
|url=https://arstechnica.com/gadgets/2025/06/ads-are-rolling-out-gradually-to-whatsapp/ |website=Ars Technica |date=16 Jun 2025 |access-date=18 Jun 2025 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250616190958/https://arstechnica.com/gadgets/2025/06/ads-are-rolling-out-gradually-to-whatsapp/ |archive-date=16 Jun 2025}}</ref> Previously, Meta (then known as Facebook) stated in 2014, after it acquired the application:
<blockquote>''("[...] And you can still count on absolutely no ads interrupting your communication.")''.<ref>{{Cite web |author= |title=Facebook |url=https://blog.whatsapp.com/facebook |website=WhatsApp |date=19 Feb 2014 |access-date=18 Jun 2025 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250806121407/https://blog.whatsapp.com/facebook |archive-date=6 Aug 2025}}</ref></blockquote>

The personalized ads also utilize data from linked accounts on other Meta platforms.<ref>{{Cite web |author= |title=Helping You Find More Channels and Businesses on WhatsApp |url=https://about.fb.com/news/2025/06/helping-you-find-more-channels-businesses-on-whatsapp/ |website=[[Meta]] |date=16 Jun 2025 |access-date=17 Feb 2026 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://archive.ph/vErdo |archive-date=19 Jun 2025}}</ref>

==Alternatives==
*[https://www.signal.org Signal] offers most of the same features, and while [[Signal data collection|not without some issues]], the app is open source, relies on Privacy by Design, and is operated by a non-profit.

*[https://matrix.org/ Matrix] is more private and uses a federated design, but setup is slightly more involved than that of a commercial messenger.

*[https://telegram.org/ Telegram] is the most popular alternative and is end-user-friendly, with minimal content moderation. Prior to a September 2024 policy change, it refused to hand over user data to law enforcement upon request.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Jamali |first=Lily |title=Telegram will now provide some user data to authorities |url=https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/cvglp0xny3eo |website=BBC |date=23 Sep 2024 |access-date=22 Jul 2025 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240923225048/https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/cvglp0xny3eo |archive-date=23 Sep 2024}}</ref>

==References==
{{Reflist}}

[[Category:WhatsApp messenger]]