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Apple Reportedly Cuts Over 700 Apps from Chinese App Store (cnet.com)

Posted by msmash on from the further-crackdown dept.

Apple has reportedly removed 718 apps from the Chinese App Store in the last few days. From a report: The iPhone maker swept out the apps because their developers pushed updates without its permission, The Telegraph reported, citing local reports. Apple warned developers against updating iOS apps without its permission in early 2017. The banned apps included Sogou's search engine and maps, online retailer Pinduodo and car sharing service Togo Car.

27 comments

  1. You need permission to update your OWN software by Anonymous Coward · · Score: -1

    Thank god I don't publish on the "Apple Store".

    1. Re:You need permission to update your OWN software by jellomizer · · Score: 2

      In China yes it seems so. I expect the Government wants to validate that your code changes "Support the public well being"

      Just like with Google, Apple if it wants to do business in China it will need to follow its laws.

      --
      If something is so important that you feel the need to post it on the internet... It probably isn't that important.
    2. Re:You need permission to update your OWN software by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      How does public well being in China benefit *me*, and why should my software further this goal?

      If anything, I want to *disrupt* the social order, not reinforce it.

    3. Re:You need permission to update your OWN software by jellomizer · · Score: 1

      Then stay in America. Unless you are brave enough to suffer imprisonment and public shaming in China.

      The real question seems to come down to. Where is the line of a law and rule that you disagree with and follow anyways to something that is morally so wrong that it is worth taking the consequences and fighting.

      For profit companies, are not known for their morals. If given the options follow the rules you don't like, or do not do business in the world largest population market. The for Profit Companies will be little debate, just follow the rules so they can have the market.

      --
      If something is so important that you feel the need to post it on the internet... It probably isn't that important.
    4. Re:You need permission to update your OWN software by ShanghaiBill · · Score: 1

      Then stay in America. Unless you are brave enough to suffer imprisonment

      The incarceration rate in America is four times that of China.

    5. Re:You need permission to update your OWN software by jellomizer · · Score: 1

      Yes, but it isn't for speaking up against the government.
      I never implied that America doesn't have its problems, A lot of this highest incarceration rate in the US is based on a Puritan heritage, and the English Idea of law. Where a Law that says don't do that and you do it then you are breaking a law and needs to be punished. Vs other areas of the world where the laws are mainly guidelines on what you should do to help maintain proper order. However if you don't follow the written law the context on why you didn't is taken into account.

      The age old example.
      You do not drive past a Red Light. In the United States, at 2:00am and there is no traffic possible you will stop your car at that red light, until it turns green. Because if you run that red light, and there was a traffic cop hiding catches you, you will get a ticket that you will not be able win.

      In other countries because it is safe to drive past that red light, even if there was a police who saw you, they will not bother with the ticket, because what you were doing had no danger. But if the traffic was busy you may get in trouble.

      When speaking up against a country, the English Law US, has laws stating that it is permissible. While other countries without that law, and they feel threatened by it, will use the endangering society excuse to get you in trouble.

      --
      If something is so important that you feel the need to post it on the internet... It probably isn't that important.
    6. Re:You need permission to update your OWN software by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Try "Make sure the app doesn't download bitcoin miner/spyware"

      The fact that it's China isn't really relevant other than some government overreach that would be unthinkable in the rest of the world. But keep in mind you can't download porn apps in the first place, so the kind of overreach is more along the lines of "app is unauthorized gambling" eg shitty microtransaction games.

    7. Re:You need permission to update your OWN software by ShanghaiBill · · Score: 2

      A lot of this highest incarceration rate in the US is based on a Puritan heritage

      The Puritan heritage was strongest in New England, where incarceration rates are the lowest in the country.

      and the English Idea of law.

      The state with the highest incarceration rate is Louisiana, which was settled by French Catholics, and is the only state that does NOT use English common law. Louisiana's state and local laws are based on the French Napoleonic Code.

      Do you know where the use of English law is most pervasive? England. Where the incarceration rate is a 1/5th the American rate.

    8. Re:You need permission to update your OWN software by Anubis+IV · · Score: 1

      You need permission to update your OWN software

      No, you need permission to push your updates to OTHER USER'S devices. You can update your own software without issue.

      If a user wants automatic updates, they can receive your update automatically. If a user doesn't want automatic updates, you shouldn't be pushing something to their device. If you are, that's a problem, and it's what Apple is addressing here.

    9. Re:You need permission to update your OWN software by balbeir · · Score: 1

      Then stay in America. Unless you are brave enough to suffer imprisonment

      The incarceration rate in America is four times that of China.

      You mean the incarceration rate as reported by the Chinese government? Sounds very trustworthy.

  2. Chinese apps by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    Chinese apps app CENSORED app apps app CENSORED app

    Or not, depending on Xi Jinping's mood that day.

  3. Opposite is the problem... by SuperKendall · · Score: 3, Informative

    You need permission to update your OWN software

    The funny thing is, you are exactly backwards.

    Read the summary again. The problem was that with Apple's system you DON'T need permission to update your own software.

    But in China, the developers were supposed to get such permission, did not, and updated anyway...

    So the problem apparently is Apple's system is too free for China. :-)

    I had no idea they needed to do that in China, no such requirement anywhere else - we just drop an update, Apple reviews it, and a few hours later it can be in the store.

    --
    "There is more worth loving than we have strength to love." - Brian Jay Stanley
    1. Re:Opposite is the problem... by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      You can't update your own software on any smartphone in the same context that this story is in though.

      For example, you may play a microtransaction gambling game and updates every 14 days like clockwork even though it's mostly the assets that change, not the game code. The game code comes on App store updates, which must be approved by Apple to begin with.

      At no point has an app ever been able to "update" itself on the app store without going through the app store. So what's really happening here is that because of the funny way China works, is that there is additional oversight by the government that Apple probably just hands them a list of every title updated that week, and the government turns around and says "not approved, kill it", and Apple goes "ok, whatever" and delists the app until the government says otherwise.

    2. Re:Opposite is the problem... by Plumpaquatsch · · Score: 1

      You can't update your own software on any smartphone in the same context that this story is in though.

      Yes you can, but it is a security risk: https://apple.slashdot.org/sto...

      An because security risks are always Apple's fault, they don't allow it: https://apple.slashdot.org/sto...

      --
      Of course news about a fake are Fake News.
  4. Mother May I? by jtara · · Score: 1

    Huh? I don't get it. ALL app submissions and updates have to be reviewed and approved by Apple.

    Is there an additional step required in the Chinese store, to ask permission before submitting the update for review?

    1. Re:Mother May I? by Gravis+Zero · · Score: 3, Informative

      Huh? I don't get it. ALL app submissions and updates have to be reviewed and approved by Apple.

      Wrong. This is about out of App Store updates. See also: Apple begins strictly enforcing rule that prohibits iOS app updates outside of App Store

      Stop being dense.

      --
      Anons need not reply. Questions end with a question mark.
    2. Re:Mother May I? by jtara · · Score: 1

      This is about out of App Store updates. See also: Apple begins strictly enforcing rule that prohibits iOS app updates outside of App Store [appleinsider.com]

      Stop being dense.

      The C|Net article said nothing about that. It left us in the dark.

      They did link to the article you cite above, which does explain it. Should have been in the article. Yes, I was aware of this and noted the press coverage at the time, but didn't make any connection from that poorly-written article.

      As an app developer, I'm well aware of this rule, and surprised that it hasn't been enforced in the past. I am always surprised when I see online posts that show that developers haven't read the submission guidelines, and think they can do all sorts of stuff that it clearly not allowed.

      But it seems that Apple hasn't really been enforcing this one. Or, perhaps not so easy to detect.

      Yes, Apple doesn't allow apps that update code outside of the App Store. That's be well-known and understood for years. You aren't allowed to do it by downloading code for an interpreted language (indeed, there are strict restrictions on the use of interpretive languages - they can be used only if compiled to bytecode at build time, and no e.g. eval() ), nor are you allowed to use these crazy schemes like rollout.io that actually allow you to patch native code in a round-about way.

      For an explanation see https://www.fireeye.com/blog/t...

      Maybe this has been a bigger problem in the Chinese app store, as there is more incentive for abusing this rule in order to bypass government restrictions. So, put out an app that is approved, and later enable the non-approved functionality.

    3. Re:Mother May I? by gnasher719 · · Score: 2

      Huh? I don't get it. ALL app submissions and updates have to be reviewed and approved by Apple.

      Imagine your app has a configuration file, which it can download from your company's website, and suddenly the app changes its behaviour. Without any review. That's what Apple is removing.

    4. Re:Mother May I? by jtara · · Score: 1

      Imagine your app has a configuration file, which it can download from your company's website, and suddenly the app changes its behaviour. Without any review.

      I don't think that's what this is about, though. Though that can be a problem as well, if not disclosed.

      From the article linked above (that was linked from the C|Net article, but that the author apparently didn't read or comprehend...) this is actually about downloading executable code.

      There are these crazy schemes that use Javascript (which is approved - but NOT if you download the Javascript code later...) that vector off to an adapter library that allows you to hot-patch Objective-C code.

      I can see, though, that configuration data as well could be a slippery slope, if it controls behavior.

      I try to keep watch on this sort of thing, since I use an app development platform that uses Ruby code in the app. Apple is cool with this, because it's compiled to Ruby bytecode at build time, and eval() is disabled. (No run-time ability to compile Ruby source code.) Javascript is also used for UI, and CAN be used for MVC (either in webview or embedded nodejs server) - but again - all the JS code is shipped with the package and no new code downloaded.

      But still it bothers me when I see stuff like this because some bad actors could jeopardize the ability to use this sort of architecture, because it COULD be used in a way counter to the guidelines, and Apple could get pissed enough to ban it.

      But, as you suggest - even just configuration data can do the job if the idea is just to fool the reviewers and not show them behavior that will be enabled later. Why go to the trouble of downloading additional code, when you could just include the code in the first place, but disable some functionality during some embargo period in order to pass review? It's unlikely that Apple is going to analyze the code and conclude "oh, there's crypto-mining code here!"

  5. It seems that Apple is by niftymitch · · Score: 1

    It seems that Apple is protecting its brand and its customers.

    A secure platform (Apple does money, yes it does) has a lot of reasons
    to managed the stuff folk install and when.

    Consider zero day exploits. What if a "dark web" exploit is picked up and
    is quickly instantiated by an application and pushed to all of a market before
    Apple can update iOS. It may be a known bug to Apple... just not yet patched.

    There are a number of attacks. The most common successful attacks involve
    code that can be run locally on the hardware i.e. an application. It only takes one
    bitcoin miner on worse in a pile of 100 applications to put the 100 on the side burner.

    I expect to see more and more of this control/management of walled gardens.
    On the money side iPay, iTunes, banking applications and then there is privacy.

    --
    Truth is stranger than fiction, but it is because Fiction is obliged to stick to possibilities; Truth isn't. Mark Twain.
    1. Re:It seems that Apple is by Anonymous Coward · · Score: -1

      apple-apologist

  6. Slurp the yogurt! by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    Slurp it good!

  7. Re: You need permission to update your OWN softwar by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    Bullshit. They just don't report most of the heinous shit they pull. Just try to tell us the Uighur situation is at all remotely comparable to anything the US does.

    What China is doing is just a tiny moral fraction away from nazi death camps, but I guess it's ok because they're asian Muslims instead of Jews.

  8. THERE WILL BE CONSEQUENCES NAZI FAGGOT KEN DOLL by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    THERE WILL BE CONSEQUENCES FOR YOUR ENTIRE FAMILY NAZI FAGGOT KEN DOLL

    Filter error: Don't use so many caps. It's like YELLING. Filter error: Don't use so many caps. It's like YELLING.

  9. Re: You need permission to update your OWN softwar by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    You are comparing England to America.

    We have STATES, that are of comparable size.

    Way to be dishonest there bill, as usual.

  10. Re: You need permission to update your OWN softwar by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    You are wrong. This is about China who wants to make sure they vet everything.

    It has nothing to do with automatic updates.

  11. Re: You need permission to update your OWN softwar by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    We need to brutally murder the Chinese savages so they understand what betas they truly are, correct. Sell them Trump, label it ham.