Apple has taken a significant step towards transparency by releasing its inaugural Transparency Report for the App Store. The report, mandated by a recent settlement agreement, aims to provide meaningful statistics to developers and shed light on the app review process, rejections, account deactivations, and more.
In 2022, the App Store housed an impressive 1,783,232 apps. During the same period, Apple received a staggering 6,101,913 app submissions, of which 1,679,694 were rejected. Notably, violations of Design 4.0 (149,378) and DPLA 3.2 Fraud (32,009) rules were the primary reasons for these rejections.
However, Apple demonstrated a willingness to work with developers to rectify issues. A total of 253,466 apps were approved after resolving concerns raised by Apple during the review process. On the other hand, 186,195 apps were removed from the App Store due to violations, with a significant number belonging to the games category.
The report also shed light on app removals governments worldwide requested. China led the list with 1,435 apps removed at the government’s request. Other countries such as India (14), Pakistan (10), and Russia (7) also made requests for app removals.
Developers who disagreed with the removal of their apps had the option to file appeals. The report noted that appeals were filed for 18,412 app removals, but only 616 apps were successfully restored.
Additionally, the report revealed that 428,487 developer accounts were terminated, primarily due to their association with already terminated accounts.
Apple’s release of the Transparency Report signifies a commitment to openness and accountability within the App Store ecosystem. Developers and users alike can now gain valuable insights into the review process, app rejections, and the actions taken by Apple to maintain the integrity of the platform.
