Apple Transparency Report Details Government App Takedown Demands
Apple reveals that it received 80 government requests to remove 770 apps from the App Store in late 2018, with the vast majority originating from China. The company also publishes previously secret US national security letters for the first time.
Apple shares new details about government demands to remove applications from its App Store in a recent transparency report covering the second half of 2018. The tech giant receives 80 takedown requests targeting a total of 770 apps, with 626 of those applications specifically requested by the Chinese government. Most of the apps China wants removed reportedly violate the country's strict illegal gambling and pornography laws.
Other nations also submit removal requests during this period, including Russia, Norway, and Saudi Arabia. Russia asks Apple to take down 11 apps, Norway requests the removal of 37 gambling-related applications, and Saudi Arabia calls for the deletion of 25 apps that allegedly violate its privacy laws. Ultimately, Apple grants 75 of the 80 total requests and removes 634 applications from its store.
In addition to the takedown figures, Apple publishes five National Security Letters from the US government for the first time now that their non-disclosure orders expire. The report also shows that Apple receives 29,183 requests globally for customer device details, with Germany and the US submitting the highest number of these inquiries. Apple promises to release even more comprehensive transparency reports in the future, including data on localized app store removals.