Apple confirms banning screen-time and parental control apps over privacy risks

Yes, Apple has been banning parental control and screen-time apps from its App Store, but the tech giant says it’s for your own safety.

Apple today confirmed claims it had banned a string of parental control and screen-limiting apps from its App Store, but said it only did so because the apps “put users’ privacy and security at risk”.

The tech giant had been accused of shutting down or restricting 11 of the top 17 most popular screen-time and parental control apps over the past year, as reported in the New York Times.

Two of the app makers affected by the restrictions have filed complaints with the European Union’s competition arm.

Apple introduced its own screen-time limits in iOS 12. Picture: AGENCE FRANCE-PRESSE/GETTY IMAGES

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But in a rare public statement, Apple said it had only banned the apps due their use of a “highly invasive technology” that gave third parties “control and access over a device and its most sensitive information, including user location, app use, email accounts, camera permissions, and browsing history”.

The technology, called “mobile device management” is more typically used to protect business technology.

“Parents shouldn’t have to trade their fears of their children’s device usage for risks to privacy and security, and the App Store should not be a platform to force this choice,” the company statement said.

“No one, except you, should have unrestricted access to manage your child’s device.”

Apple did not confirm how many apps had been removed or restricted due to their use of this technology but said each app maker was given 30 days to submit an updated app that did not rely on the software feature.

Apple said the parental control apps it banned risked the security and privacy of users. Picture: Scott Olson/Getty Images/AFP

Makers of the affected apps, including OurPact, Freedom, Mobicip, Kidslox and Qustodio, have questioned Apple’s move on their industry, which they claim happened without warning.

The apps offered parents ways to limit their children’s time on smartphones, block text messages, track their location, and set rules for individual apps.

Two affected apps have filed anti-competition complaints with the European Union over the issue.

Apple introduced its own screen-limiting features into the iOS 12 operating system in September last year. Screen Time allows users to set their own app limits, content restrictions, and downtime, and do the same for their children’s Apple devices.