Tech giant Apple Inc. removed 13 out of 17 most downloaded screen-time and parental-control apps that assist people fight IPhone addiction. This step by Apple is speculated to be done as it has now its own screen-time tracker.
Chief Executive of Freedom, screen-time app, Fred Stutzman said, “Their incentives aren’t really aligned for helping people solve their problem.” The Freedom app was downloaded 7,70,000 times before Apple removed it in August 2018. The executive at the third-party app makers thinks that they are being punished because their apps could be roadblocks on Apple business growth.
Amir Moussavian, CEO of OurPact, the top parental-control iPhone app, said, “They yanked us out of the blue with no warning.”
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As per reports, Apple is also taking steps against apps that help parents to have control over how their kids use iPhones. Two such apps, Kidslox and Qustodio, filed a complaint with the European Union competition office on Thursday.
However, Apple said that it removed or required changes to the apps because they could gain too much information from users’ devices.
Nullifying the accusation Tammy Levine, an Apple spokeswoman, said, “We treat all apps the same, including those that compete with our own services. Our incentive is to have a vibrant app ecosystem that provides consumers access to as many quality apps as possible.”