Apple rejects Ad blocker updates from App Store

Apple is going after third party ad blockers in the App Store. According to reports, the company no longer allows updates for VPN-based solutions which prevent ads from being displayed at an operating system level.

In a report from 9to5mac, it has been stated that several popular apps, including Adblock and Weblock, can no longer be updated in the App Store due to what appears to be revised Apple guidelines that no longer allow VPN-based adblock applications installing certificates on the Apple device.

Particularly, Apple has been rejecting updates for this type of apps because of section 4.2 of its App Store Developer Guidelines, which states:

“Your app should include features, content, and UI that elevate it beyond a repackaged website. If your app is not particularly useful, unique, or ‘app-like,’ it doesn’t belong on the App Store. If your App doesn’t provide some sort of lasting entertainment value, or is just plain creepy, it may not be accepted.”

The point 4.2.1 also details on this guideline, adding that “apps should use APIs and frameworks for their intended purposes and indicate that integration in their app description.”

This means, without the presence of VPN-based ad blockers, iPhone and iPad users are no longer able blocking ads on the operating system level, but only enable content blockers in browser Safari or other third-party browsers like Firefox. With Adblock or Weblock, however, users were allowed to block ads not only in the browser, but also in apps installed on the device, with the help of an installed certificate.

Apple stated that it hasn’t updated its guidelines regarding third-party ad blockers in the App Store, and says that this kind of apps has never been allowed to receive updates. This isn’t the case however, as both Adblock and Weblock got updated several times in the past, with their developers revealing that only the most recent updates were rejected.

“This is not a new guideline. We have never allowed apps on the App Store that are designed to interfere with the performance or capabilities of other apps. We have always supported advertising as one of the many ways that developers can make money with apps,” Apple was quoted as saying.

On an important note to state, while updates have been blocked for third-party VPN-based ad blockers, the apps themselves are still up for grabs, though it’s not yet clear if Apple intends to remove them completely in the coming weeks or not.