IT Home October 20 news: Apple tightened its developer guidelines over the weekend, banning two types of apps: one that uses AI to generate offensive content, and another that disguises itself as an ordinary app to pass App Store review, only to turn into a strip-tease-style app after launch, or an app that prominently showcases such features.
Apple has updated the strict provisions in its guidelines regarding AI and user-generated content, explicitly requiring developers to set up sufficient safeguards and to implement content moderation against harmful or offensive content.
Apple wrote in a blog post: "Apps hosting user-generated content must filter objectionable material, provide users with a channel for reporting inappropriate content, and support blocking offending accounts. The App Store likewise prohibits apps containing hidden or undocumented features, including apps that deliberately conceal their true purpose during the review stage and only unlock harmful capabilities such as 'stripping' after being approved — this tactic is the common bait-and-switch scam."
Apple stated that if an app adds functionality that was not present in the version submitted for review, it will be removed from the store.
This company iPhone The manufacturer has also revised the wording of the legal terms section, further emphasizing that it will ban apps related to human trafficking and child exploitation.
Apple said last year that its review process blocked more than 150,000 apps from going live to users, and banned 193,000 developer accounts for fraud and violations.
IT Home noted that in July this year, the city of San Francisco ordered Apple and Google to clean up and remove strip-type apps from their app stores. City Attorney David Chiu accused the two companies of profiting from such apps through platform commissions. In April, a report from the Tech Transparency Project revealed that multiple strip-type apps existed in the two tech giants' app stores, some of which were rated as suitable for minors.