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Ask HN: Apple revoked developer account for 2.5 years and counting

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Re: Ask HN: Apple revoked developer account for 2.5 years and counting

#71

Post by spaetzleesser »

openthc wrote: post #24

Hmm, ages ago we added a cannabis related app on Apple/iOS -- and there were loads of other (small-ish) already on there -- to help grow, or find (to buy) or to review cannabis products. Ours was for regualtory compliance -- a legal obligation for cannabis businesses. REJECTED! And after a 6mo appeal/review process -- with moving goal-posts -- we were allowed back in. YAY. And then they started getting into the appli…

We really have to get away from having only a few mega-powerful providers for such services to having smaller providers that actually compete with each other. It's insane that Apple has full control of what goes onto devices that have such a significant market share. The app store(s) should be run by different that do the app reviews and allow apps by their own guidelines. So if you want a cannabis or porn app you can go to an app store that allows these apps and if you like a more family friendly store you go to another app store.

The censorship abilities these companies have is just too much. I don't like Trump but it really bothered me that Facebook and Twitter blocked him. If the block the US president how many smaller guys are being censored and you never will know?

Re: Ask HN: Apple revoked developer account for 2.5 years and counting

#72

Post by camhart »

tptacek wrote: post #66
camhart wrote: post #54

Earlier quoted context omitted.

> You said other apps are fine, but are those other apps advertising themselves as parental controls or as stalking software? Search for "accountability software", and you'll find apps advertised in a very similar manner that have had no issues with Apple, with absolutely no mentioning of parental controls. > I took a look at your website https://truple.io and... there is very little mention of this being for parents…

What are some of the comparable applications you're thinking about? Can you link to them? You know more about the space than most of us, so help us out a bit.

I've been hesitant to do so. Look at the top several results from https://www.google.com/search?q=porn+accountability+app for apps that don't even try to advertise as parental focused apps.

If you want direct links, send me an email (you can find it in my profile).

Re: Ask HN: Apple revoked developer account for 2.5 years and counting

#74

Post by bastardoperator »

umvi wrote: post #19
bijant wrote: post #13

I‘m sorry for You. I can see how you‘d think that your software is providing society a service. And yet from my perspective your software is malware. I don’t think you have considered the legal ramifications of your software in all markets where the app store is offered. Aside from the legal risk to You, there is also a reputational risk to Apple, a company trying to rebrand itself by focussing on privacy (CSAM nonwi…

> And yet from my perspective your software is malware. So don't buy/install it. But don't take away that choice from other people. I have a good married friend who uses parental control software on himself to reduce the temptation to look at porn. It basically just gives his wife access to his browsing history. Sure, he could bypass it a number of ways if he was really determined, but it's more about just raising th…

Off topic, I knew marriages could be toxic but this is peak. If you don't trust your partner 100%+ the marriage is already dead IMHO.

Re: Ask HN: Apple revoked developer account for 2.5 years and counting

#75

Post by nerdjon »

camhart wrote: post #54
nerdjon wrote: post #47

You said other apps are fine, but are those other apps advertising themselves as parental controls or as stalking software? I took a look at your website https://truple.io and... there is very little mention of this being for parents. TBH looking at the website is... deeply concerning for anyone that would legitimately want to use this product. Especially on a spouse?!? I am willing to bet part of the issue is the ta…

> You said other apps are fine, but are those other apps advertising themselves as parental controls or as stalking software? Search for "accountability software", and you'll find apps advertised in a very similar manner that have had no issues with Apple, with absolutely no mentioning of parental controls. > I took a look at your website https://truple.io and... there is very little mention of this being for parents…

I looked up a few alternatives and your website and marketing tell a very different story.

"Online filth" is in your website header, so your kinda focusing on them. I looked at the reviews and your most recent one continues to reinforce something about "filth" https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.camhart.ne...

As far as not being used "on" someone. Again you have reviews from Spouses and Parents which would imply they are being used "on" someone. Something I noticed the other apps focus on is individual accountability. I see almost no reference to spouses or parents there. Just having some you trust to be accountable too.

Your first line on google play says "Truple protects your loved ones against porn & other online filth. It holds your loved ones accountable in a way that's near impossible to bypass by capturing and sharing screenshots." How exactly is that not it being "used on anyone"?

Your marketing around this tells a story of surveillance trying to pass it off as some "good" where accountability is a secondary issue. While here you are focused on accountability.

And personally I have to wonder if Apple takes this into account when approving apps (which I assume they do)

Re: Ask HN: Apple revoked developer account for 2.5 years and counting

#76

Post by tptacek »

camhart wrote: post #72
tptacek wrote: post #66

Earlier quoted context omitted.

What are some of the comparable applications you're thinking about? Can you link to them? You know more about the space than most of us, so help us out a bit.

I've been hesitant to do so. Look at the top several results from https://www.google.com/search?q=porn+accountability+app for apps that don't even try to advertise as parental focused apps. If you want direct links, send me an email (you can find it in my profile).

For instance, "Covenant Eye" (which: holy shit, how creepy is this!) always blurs screenshots. Yours apparently does opt-in blurring.

I'm interested in the detective project of figuring out what red lines your app may have crossed, just because it's interesting. But cards on the table: none of these apps should be allowed on the app store. Maybe Apple just hasn't gotten around to shutting down "Covenant Eye" yet.

Re: Ask HN: Apple revoked developer account for 2.5 years and counting

#77

Post by camhart »

SrslyJosh wrote: post #73

Sounds like an invasion of privacy that will be forced on people who can't provide meaningful consent.

A computer sounds like a hacking device used for ransomware. Just because a tool has one possible negative use (which I do everything I can think of to protect against) doesn't discount it's valid use cases and bar it from being used.

Re: Ask HN: Apple revoked developer account for 2.5 years and counting

#78

Post by krisoft »

zokier wrote: post #49

2.5 years sounds pretty extreme. Not from Apples part (its pretty on-brand), but on your part.. To me it sounds like it would be time to just leave the platform behind and move on with your life? Ask yourself is it really worthwhile to fight the uphill battle against Apple to get your app approved?

Is it really a fight though? Presumably they send a letter every x month, and do other things with their life in the meantime.

Re: Ask HN: Apple revoked developer account for 2.5 years and counting

#79

Post by shadowgovt »

This sucks. :(

Apple is a closed ecosystem, and building on a closed ecosystem always carries the risk that the ecosystem owner will decide an individual or company just can't play. But that doesn't make it better; it's just a risk to be aware of.

Re: Ask HN: Apple revoked developer account for 2.5 years and counting

#80

Post by tptacek »

tptacek wrote: post #76
camhart wrote: post #72

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I've been hesitant to do so. Look at the top several results from https://www.google.com/search?q=porn+accountability+app for apps that don't even try to advertise as parental focused apps. If you want direct links, send me an email (you can find it in my profile).

For instance, "Covenant Eye" (which: holy shit, how creepy is this!) always blurs screenshots. Yours apparently does opt-in blurring. I'm interested in the detective project of figuring out what red lines your app may have crossed, just because it's interesting. But cards on the table: none of these apps should be allowed on the app store. Maybe Apple just hasn't gotten around to shutting down "Covenant Eye" yet.

"Ever Accountable", another example, only works for a small list of applications --- if you're not on their VPN, you even have to use their browser. Your application takes random screenshots and advertises that it's hard to bypass, which is kind of the opposite of what "Ever Accountable" claims.
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