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Apple rejected update for Facebook app that informed users of Apple's 30% cut of in-app purchases

Facebook has a feud with Apple. (Image: Facebooke and Apple logos w/ edits)
Facebook has a feud with Apple. (Image: Facebooke and Apple logos w/ edits)
Facebook claims that Apple blocked an update that would have informed users of Apple's practice of taking 30% of all in-app purchases. The update, which introduces a tool allowing businesses to sell tickets to online events, originally notified users of Apple's policy. The update was only allowed on the App Store after that wording was removed.

Apple has allegedly blocked an update from Facebook that included information about Apple’s practice of taking 30% of all in-app purchases, according to Facebook.

The social media giant is rolling out a new feature in its iOS and Android apps that will allow businesses to sell tickets to online events directly through the app. Per its App Store policies, Apple would claim a 30% cut for all of these sales, since they are made through the app.

In the description of the app update that would enable this feature, Facebook included wording that pointed out Apple’s 30% fee.

This update was reportedly blocked by Apple, Facebook told Reuters.

Apple reportedly told Facebook that the update violated App Store policies by including “irrelevant information” to users.

Facebook had asked Apple to waive the 30% fee for this feature, which is designed to help online businesses recoup some revenue lost due to the global Coronavirus pandemic. Apple declined the waiver request.

The update is available now, but the message informing users of Apple’s 30% cut is not present. Facebook is also not able to inform users of alternative methods of payment through the feature, such as using a web browser to purchase tickets instead of the app.

Facebook is not the first to criticize Apple’s fee policies. Epic Games, the creator of Fortnite, is currently suing Apple for removing Fortnite from the App Store. Epic Games had introduced a direct payment method for purchasing in-game currency in the iOS version of Fortnite, which violates Apple’s Apps Store policies.

Other tech giants (including Microsoft, Spotify, and Netflix) have spoken negatively of Apple’s practice, sometimes referring to the Cupertino colossus as a monopoly.

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> Expert Reviews and News on Laptops, Smartphones and Tech Innovations > News > News Archive > Newsarchive 2020 08 > Apple rejected update for Facebook app that informed users of Apple's 30% cut of in-app purchases
Sam Medley, 2020-08-28 (Update: 2020-08-28)