Chinese media spots pornography-linked apps on Apple’s mainland App Store amid regulators’ tightened scrutiny of this market
- A few malicious apps that link to either pornographic or online gambling websites were found on Apple’s mainland App Store by local media
- The discovery was made at a time when Apple has started complying with regulations that require all apps and app developers to be licensed
One of these apps Xuexi Xinde Zimu, which translates to Learning Sindhi Alphabets in English, was the country’s most downloaded free iOS app during the recent National Day holiday, according to a report by local digital news outlet The Paper, which is run by state-owned Shanghai United Media Group.
On Monday, Guangzhou-based tabloid newspaper Southern Metropolis Daily reported that it found three such apps, including Xuexi Xinde Zimu, on Apple’s China App Store.
These apps, which directed users to either pornographic or online gambling websites, have subsequently been removed, according to local media reports.
Apple did not immediately respond to an inquiry on Monday.
The malicious apps were found in spite of Apple’s stringent policies against such content and its China App Store’s reputation as a cleaner platform compared with mainland Android stores.
