Apple-blocked Facebook update highlighting Apple’s in-app purchase fees

Apple blocked Facebook’s attempt to inform users about the 30% fee that Apple would take from all in-app purchases made through a new online events feature, Facebook said. Reuters. Apple reportedly told Facebook that the update violated an App Store rule that prevents developers from showing “irrelevant” information to users.

Facebook planned to launch a new tool in its app that allows online influencers and other businesses to host paid online events as a way to recoup revenue lost during the global health crisis. The feature allows Facebook users to purchase event tickets directly through the app.

The old rules of Apple’s App Store say that the iPhone manufacturer takes 30% of all in-app purchases. When Facebook asked Apple to waive the fee so it could pass all proceeds from the events to business owners, Apple allegedly refused.

The feature is now available in the Facebook app, only without the message notifying users about Apple’s 30% fee. The image above was posted by Facebook earlier this month to show what the message would have looked like.

Facebook reportedly intended to display a message on Android that said “Facebook does not charge a fee for this purchase”, but Reuters He said the message does not appear in the version of Facebook currently available on the Google Play Store.

“Now more than ever, we should have the option to help people understand where their money is really going for small businesses. Unfortunately, Apple rejected our transparency notice about its 30% tax, but we are still working on that that information is available within the app experience. “Facebook said in a statement.

Apple did not respond to a request for comment.

Nothing about Apple’s actions is new here: The company has been consistent in preventing other apps like Netflix and Spotify from discussing App Store policies, like explaining that users can pay for its services over the web without Apple make a cutout.

What is different in this case is that by previewing the message before submitting it to Apple’s App Store review process, Facebook clearly seeks to drive the debate on how Apple controls applications on its iOS platform, at a time when Apple is already facing antitrust lawsuits. and government investigations into alleged anti-competitive actions.

One particularly vocal critic has been Fortnite creator Epic Games, which has repeatedly referred to the App Store as a monopoly. Earlier this month, Apple removed Fortnite from the App Store after Epic Games introduced a direct in-app payment option for its in-game currency, violating App Store rules. In a seemingly orchestrated move, Epic Games quickly filed a lawsuit against Apple, accusing the company of anti-competitive behavior.

Since then, Spotify and Microsoft have sided with Epic on the issue, and Facebook’s latest action suggests they have chosen another ally in the growing controversy over Apple’s App Store policies.

Article Link: Apple Blocked Facebook Update Highlighting Apple’s In-App Purchase Fees