Apple removed an anti-vaccine online dating and social media app called Unjected from the App Store. This app was removed for violating Apple’s rules regarding COVID-19 and misinformation.
Unjected has an online dating feature similar to Tinder, where users can create an account to find new friends or acquaintances. Not only that, the app can also be used for users who want to find businesses or services that support the anti-vaccine movement.
Apple took action against Unjected after being contacted by Bloomberg, which recently released a report on the app and how Apple and Google handled misinformation about the COVID-19 vaccine in the app.
Before being fired by Apple, Unjected was noticed by Google first. Unjected recently introduced social feed features, such as Facebook and Twitter, which prompted Google Play to check it out.
On July 16, Google warned the founders of Unjected about misinformation in its feed, including consumer claims that the vaccine contained microchips. Unjected has two weeks to remove the post or will be kicked out of the Play Store.
Unexpectedly then removed the social feed feature from its app to comply with Google Play rules, but its founders plan to reinstate the feature and post, and hope Google can’t track it down. The app is currently still available on the Play Store.
Meanwhile, Apple immediately removed Unjected from the App Store after being contacted by Bloomberg. Apple says the app violates App Store rules that require COVID-19-related apps to provide information from trusted health institutions.
Apple revealed that Unjected had previously been rejected by the App Store during the review process for violating rules regarding COVID-19. The app is then allowed to enter the App Store after its developer makes changes.
But Unjected once again violated Apple’s rules after external comments made by developers to users and a new update were released, as quoted from Gizmodo, Tuesday (3/8/2021).
Apple also highlighted Unjected’s founder’s comments that prohibited users from using words like ‘vaccine’, ‘jabbed’, or ‘microchip’ to avoid App Store reviews.
Apple says this is a violation of App Store rules, and warns other developers that its apps could be removed if they try to circumvent the system.
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APPS & GAMES