If an app is not working, now we will be able to call the developer by phone: more changes in the European App Store

Apple has announced further changes to the App Store in the European Union, which will come into effect from October due to the arrival of the EU Digital Services Act (DSA). With the new regulation, any developer who generates revenue through their application, whether through direct sales, in-app purchases, or advertising, must provide contact information including their postal address, telephone number, and email.

Apple Support Download

Very personal information, for certain developers

This information will be visible to everyone in the description of each application within the store and aims to facilitate the possibility of directly contacting the creators of the applications. It is a significant change, especially for individual developers who, until now, could maintain a certain degree of anonymity or decide which official channels to open to offer technical support to users.

While the idea is interesting, it is also true that individuals with an application in the App Store often do not have a commercial phone number or office address, and they will be forced to share their personal data publicly. Here it happens that this is a legal provision that Apple must comply with, being simply an intermediary obliged to comply with the guidelines of the DSA.

As Apple has announced, App Store users in the EU can now see this contact information directly under the description of each app, whenever available. Starting from October 16, 2024, it will be mandatory for all developers to provide this information in order to publish new apps or updates to existing ones. Furthermore, apps that comply with the delivery of this information before February 17, 2025 will be removed from the App Store in the European Union.

Apple Support Download

Undoubtedly, transparency about who is behind an application is interesting. And yet, there are many people who offer their creations on the App Store individually. Here, giving something as personal as a phone number, or what will most likely be their home address, is perhaps more than what was expected when the DSA was created.