Apple has taken down iTorrent, a torrent client for iOS. The open source app was distributed via the AltStore PAL in the EU.
It wasn't even hosted on the App Store? Why do this?
Initially, things were unclear when the app disappeared from the AltStore PAL in July. iTorrent developer, Daniil Vinogradov (aka XITRIX), confirmed that Apple had removed Alternative Distribution functionality from iTorrent's Developer Portal, and that no warning was given. The dev also expressed concern that Apple had not responded properly, beyond saying that "their escalation team is looking into it." AltStore PAL Co-founder Shane Gill also requested Apple to clarify the issue.
Many people believed it was the fact that the app was a torrent client, that led Apple to take the app down. That is a fair assumption, given that Apple has a rough history with torrent apps. It has been banning torrent clients since 2009. Torrent clients are not illegal, neither is the act of downloading stuff via torrents. Ever heard of Linux ISO torrents? LibreOffice? Public domain media? What steps the legal boundaries, is the act of downloading and distributing copyrighted content without permission. That's when the issue of piracy arises. A torrent client is in its basic form, like a download manager, a tool which is used by the person responsible for downloading the torrent, aka the user, not the app developer.
After two months of emails, Apple finally revealed what had happened. As it turns out, Apple didn't block iTorrent for its torrent capabilities. According to a statement provided by Apple to TorrentFreak, “Notarization for this app was removed in order to comply with government sanctions-related rules in various jurisdictions. We have communicated this to the developer.”
What does that mean? Well, Vinogradov has a Russia-based Apple account, which is against the sanctions, so the app's EU distribution permissions had been revoked. But here is the thing, the developer has been living in Malta for over 3 years, with an EU Residence permit. In a comment on GitHub, Vinogradov explained that the account wasn't updated with the new details, and the fault lies with them, not Apple. While Vinogradov acknowledged the ban is far, the developer was frustrated why Apple not notifying about the ban, and the long time it took to get a response from the company. The developer hopes to reintroduce the app in AltStore PAL soon.
I still feel Apple is overreaching with its power. Apple's compliance with the Digital Markets Act has been questionable.
Sadly, things like this might happen to Android apps too, as Google wants developers to sign their apps, and verify their identities.
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