Apple’s App Store AI crackdown shows continued enforcement
▼ Summary
– Apple removed the Cal AI app for violating App Store rules, including bypassing in-app purchases and using deceptive billing tactics.
– The app was reinstated after its developer addressed the violations Apple had identified.
– This enforcement action occurred despite a court ruling allowing U.S. developers to link to external payment systems, as apps must still offer Apple’s in-app purchase option.
– Apple cited specific violations: implementing a third-party payment flow that removed Apple’s option and designing a paywall that misled users about pricing.
– The incident demonstrates Apple’s continued active policing of payment implementations, serving as a warning to other developers.
Apple’s recent enforcement action against the Cal AI food-tracking app underscores its ongoing commitment to App Store Guidelines, even as new rules permit some external payment links. The popular calorie-counting app, owned by MyFitnessPal, was temporarily removed from the platform for multiple violations. Apple clarified that the removal was not solely about using an external payment system, but involved a pattern of rule-breaking, including bypassing in-app purchase flows and employing deceptive billing design.
The app’s brief disappearance sparked discussion online, with some initially speculating Apple had acted against newly permitted web payments. Following a court ruling in the Epic Games lawsuit, U. S. developers can now link to external payment systems. However, Apple’s in-app purchase option must still be offered alongside that link for most apps, a requirement Cal AI failed to meet. The company had implemented an embedded payment flow using Stripe, completely removing Apple’s IAP from the user checkout process. This directly violated App Review Guideline 3.1.1.
Beyond the payment issue, Apple cited several manipulative practices. The app’s paywall was found to violate Guideline 3.1.2c by deceptively presenting pricing. It displayed weekly calculated costs more prominently than the actual billing amount and included a free trial toggle that obscured details about automatic subscription renewal. Apple also pointed to violations of the Developer Code of Conduct, noting the app would prompt users who declined one subscription offer with a second, different purchase flow. Numerous user reviews had accused the app of being a scam due to its presentation of third-party payment options.
After addressing these specific issues, Cal AI was reinstated on the App Store. The app, originally founded by high school students and later acquired by MyFitnessPal, currently holds a top-five position in the Health & Fitness charts. This episode serves as a clear signal to developers. While the rules have evolved, Apple remains vigilant in policing its App Store ecosystem, actively reviewing how external payments are implemented. The company’s willingness to enforce its guidelines, even on a high-revenue app, demonstrates that compliance is non-negotiable.
(Source: TechCrunch)
