For several years, the App Store has been playing on transparency, we have found visibility on in-app purchases, the collection of information, the developer’s website… Soon, Apple will force developers to display a telephone number, an address email as well as the address of their headquarters. Information which will be displayed on all application sheets on the App Stores in Europe.
Updated 10/18 : Apple has made its information mandatory.
The information will be displayed at the bottom of the application sheet
Apple recently reminded developers in the European Union of an important new obligation: starting October 16, 2024, they will have to submit their “status” in order to continue distributing their applications on the App Store. This new directive does not come from the Cupertino company, but arises from the Digital Services Act (DSA) of the European Union, a law designed to better inform users about the identity of developers, whether they are independent or representatives of a company.
Concretely, developers will now have to display information such as their physical address, their telephone number and their email address on the App Store page dedicated to their applications. This measure aims to increase transparency and provide users with clear data on the entity or person responsible for the applications they plan to download.
This new requirement is already raising concerns, particularly among independent developers and small businesses, who say they are concerned about the disclosure of their personal information. Some fear the repercussions this could have on their privacy and security. For example, a person who feels “scammed” or “misunderstood” following a support request could go directly to the physical address of the developer to settle their accounts.
Apple will have to verify the information
To ensure the accuracy of the information submitted, Apple will systematically verify the information when submitting a new application or update. This additional validation process may increase the work of App Store teams, which could potentially slow down the validation of applications and updates.
Furthermore, Apple has clarified that this information will only be displayed on European App Stores, which suggests that the company is perhaps not entirely in agreement with this mandatory exposure of personal data beyond the borders of the EU.
Finally, from February 17, 2025, applications that do not comply with this display obligation will be removed from the App Store in the European Union. They can only be reinstated once the necessary information has been submitted and verified. This deadline is approaching, and developers therefore have a limited time to prepare for these new regulatory requirements.
