Apple Removes Thousands Of Contact Info Apps From EU App Store

Apple removed the app from the EU App Store (photo:dok. Apple)

JAKARTA Apple has started removing thousands of apps from the App Store for users in the European Union. This deletion was carried out to comply with regulations regarding 'trade status' on app distribution platforms.

Based on the Digital Services Act (DSA) policy, all app developers must display 'trade status' which includes addresses, phone numbers, and emails to consumers. On the App Store, this information status is displayed on the app page.

On the developer's official website, Apple says that it has removed apps that do not comply with DSA rules. If the app wants to be restored, the developers must provide the status of their traders and Apple must verify first.

"To this day, applications without merchant status have been removed from the App Store in the European Union (EU) until the status of traders is granted and verified by Apple," the company said on February 18. "(This status is necessary) to comply with the DSA."

According to the records of the Appfigures application intelligence provider, Apple has removed 135,000 applications from the App Store in all European Union countries. This deletion was made within 30 hours of the set deadline, February 17.

In fact, the news of this deletion is not surprising, especially for developers in the country. Since last year, Apple has directed app developers on the App Store to provide merchant status in accordance with the provisions of the European Commission.

Most of the affected parties are indie application developers who don't want to publish their home addresses. Compared to sharing addresses that are their personal data, developers choose to remove their apps from the App Store.