During last year’s WWDC 2021, Apple announced numerous changes to its App Store policy. With the WWDC 2022 on June 6, the company reminded developers of the rapid and important changes that have been repeatedly postponed.
Two changes to the App Store policies will take effect on June 30:
- Requirement for apps that offer paid group online services to use Apple’s in-app payment system.
- Requirement for developers to offer easy deletion of accounts (including saved personal data) in any app that allows users to create an account.
The policy on online group services (such as classes and activities) was introduced even before WWDC 2021. However, Apple postponed its implementation three times. The first delay occurred in 2020 after Facebook complained that it would unfairly affect vulnerable small businesses. The next delay happened in the spring of 2021. It was finally due to take effect in January this year, along with a policy that allows users to initiate the removal of an account from the app.
But on January 22, Apple postponed the deadline for both changes for a few more months to June 30. The company said it would give developers more time to update their apps, and that it doesn’t expect any more delays. Below you can read the account deletion policy note.
Apple’s requirements for account deletion:
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The account deletion option should be easy to find in your app.
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If your app offers Sign in with Apple, you’ll need to use the Sign in with Apple REST API to revoke user tokens when deleting an account.
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It’s insufficient to only provide the ability to temporarily disable or deactivate an account. People should be able to delete the account along with their personal data.
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Apps in highly-regulated industries may provide additional customer service flows to confirm and facilitate the account deletion process.
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Follow applicable legal requirements for storing and retaining user account information, and for handling account deletion. This includes complying with local laws in different countries or regions. As always, check with your legal counsel.
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