In developer documentation outlining systemwide adjustments to the App Retailer within the European Union, Apple explains why various app shops, various fee choices, and different updates are being restricted to the EU.
Apple claims that these adjustments are introducing notable dangers for customers and builders, introducing “new avenues for malware, fraud and scams, illicit and dangerous content material, and different privateness and safety threats.”
Additional, Apple says that the updates compromise its means to “detect, forestall, and take motion” in opposition to malicious apps, and likewise to assist customers impacted by points with apps which can be downloaded outdoors of the App Retailer.
“We’re limiting these adjustments to the European Union as a result of we’re involved about their impacts on the privateness and safety of our customers’ expertise – which stays our North Star,” Apple writes.
To restrict danger, Apple is requiring various app shops to bear a notarization course of that can examine for malware and viruses, however Apple won’t consider an app’s content material. Although notarization will add safeguards, Apple says there may be danger concerned with the alternate app retailer system.
If not correctly managed, various distribution poses elevated privateness, security, and safety dangers for customers and builders. This contains dangers from putting in software program from unknown builders that aren’t topic to the Apple Developer Program necessities, putting in software program that compromises system integrity with malware or different malicious code, the distribution of pirated software program, publicity to illicit, objectionable, and dangerous content material as a consequence of decrease content material and moderation requirements, and elevated dangers of scams, fraud, and abuse. Apple has much less means to handle these dangers, and to assist and refund prospects concerning these points. Even with safeguards, many of those dangers stay.
Going ahead, Apple plans to interact with the European Union, developer neighborhood, and EU customers in regards to the impacts of other app shops.
Outdoors of the EU, app builders should proceed to make use of the App Retailer and in-app buy system as traditional.