Apple addresses concerns over crackdown on third-party parental control apps

Apple tree addresses concerns over crackdown on third-political party parental control apps

Apple tree is explaining why it'southward been removing tertiary-party parental control apps over the past several months

Over the weekend,The New York Timesreported on Apple's removal of several third-party parental controls apps from the App Store.

Now, Apple has issued a public argument on why it's been cracking down on these apps.

In a post on its website, Apple says it became enlightened over the past year of several apps that were using Mobile Device Management (MDM) to monitor device usage.

Co-ordinate to Apple, MDM is intended for enterprises to provide better command over their ain data and hardware. However, Apple tree does non allow MDM in consumer-focused apps, stating that companies should not have control over other peoples' data and that doing so tin even make them susceptible to hackers.

"Parents shouldn't accept to trade their fears of their children's device usage for risks to privacy and security, and the App Store should not be a platform to force this option. No one, except y'all, should have unrestricted access to manage your child's device," Apple tree said in its statement.

Apple has as well addressed claims by some developers in the Times written report that it is removing these apps because they compete with its own Screen Time feature. Equally noted by theTimes, Apple began taking downwards these apps following the rollout of Screen Time in iOS 12 terminal September. Last month, anti-virus provider Kaspersky similarly accused Apple of cracking down on its Kaspersky Safe Kids app in an attempt to prop up Screen Time.

"Apple has always supported third-party apps on the App Store that aid parents manage their kids' devices. Contrary to what The New York Times reported over the weekend, this isn't a affair of competition. Information technology's a matter of security," said Apple.

The afflicted app developers as well criticized how Apple originally communicated to them that their apps did not meet Apple's privacy requirements.

In its argument, Apple said it notified the app developers who violated its rules and gave them thirty days to update their apps to attach to Apple'due south policies. Apple says several app makers complied, while those that did not have had their apps removed.

Nevertheless, developers told theTimes that they made multiple requests for more information on the specific app changes Apple required them to make, but the tech behemothic's staff either did non give enough back up or did not respond altogether.

Apple did non accost these criticisms in its statement.

Source: Apple