The number of requests received from a government agency seeking to take down a third party application offered on the App Store related to alleged/suspected legal violations. We count each individual request received from each country or region and report the total number of requests received by country or region.
Apps Specified in Requests
The number of apps specified in the requests verified to be apps available on the App Store. A government agency request may contain one or multiple apps. We count the number of apps identified in each request received from each country or region and report the total number of apps specified in requests received by country or region.
Requests Objected to in Part or Rejected in Full
The number of app takedown requests related to alleged/suspected legal violations that resulted in Apple objecting to or rejecting the request in part or in full based on grounds such as a request does not have a valid legal basis, or is unclear, inappropriate and/or over-broad, or does not sufficiently demonstrate the legal violation of the app to be removed. We count each App Store takedown request related to alleged/suspected legal violations where we object in part or reject in full and report the total number of such instances by country or region.
Requests where App Removed
The number of App Store takedown requests where the request sufficiently demonstrated a valid legal violation and Apple proceeded with removal of app(s) from the App Store. We count each app takedown request related to alleged/suspected legal violations where we proceeded with app removal and report the total number of such instances by country or region.
Apps Removed
The number of App Store takedown requests where the request sufficiently demonstrated a valid legal violation and Apple proceeded with removal of app(s) from the App Store. We count each app takedown request related to alleged/suspected legal violations where we proceeded with app removal and report the total number of apps removed in such instances by country or region.
Appeals Received
The number of App Store takedown requests where Apple received notice of an appeal to court or government agency. We count each app takedown appeal related to alleged/suspected legal violations.
Appeals Granted
The number of App Store takedown requests where Apple received notice of a court or government agency granting an appeal to the takedown request. We count each app takedown appeal granted that related to alleged/suspected legal violations.
Apps Reinstated
The number of apps reinstated to the App Store due to a court or government agency appeal being granted. We count each app reinstated from app removal related to alleged/suspected legal violations.
Transparency Report January - June 2020
To view a detailed report, click on a country/region.
Note: App removals were limited to requesting country/region App Store storefront, except where indicated otherwise in Matters of Note.
Matters of Note
China mainland
Requests predominantly related to apps with pornography or other illegal content.
Germany
Request related to app failing to meet medical device law requirements. App removed from the 27 EU member states and the United Kingdom.
India
Requests predominantly related to apps identified as state security violations.
Norway
Request related to gambling apps not complying with regulations.
Russia
Requests related to apps operating without government license, predominantly gambling apps.
Sri Lanka
Request related to app with illegal content.
Switzerland
Request related to illegal gambling apps.
Taiwan
Request related to gaming app not complying with regulations. Developer resolved issue and submitted appeal to agency. Agency provided approval for app to be restored.
App Removal Requests - Worldwide
Report Period
H1 represents January 1 through June 30.
H2 represents July 1 through December 31.
Request Type
Legal Violation Requests:Requests received from a government agency seeking to take down a third party application offered on the App Store related to alleged/suspected legal violations.
Platform Violation Requests: Requests received from a government agency seeking to take down a third party application offered on the App Store related to alleged/suspected App Store platform policy violations.
Requests Received
The number of app removal requests received worldwide from government agencies asking Apple to remove an app from the App Store.
Requests where App Removed
The number of app removal requests received worldwide from government agencies where Apple proceeded with removal of app(s) from the App Store.
Apps Removed
The number of apps removed from the App Store in response to app removal requests received worldwide from government agencies.