Apple suspends over 135,000 apps across EU App Stores

The European Union’s Digital Services Act (DSA) went into effect provisionally back in August 2023 and laid out a set of rules for online platforms and the goal of protecting consumers. The DSA became applicable for all online platforms on February 17, 2024 with Articles 30 and 31 requiring app developers to provide their “trader status” in order to submit new apps or app updates for distribution on EU territory.

In order to comply with the directive, Apple urged devs to provide their trader status by Monday, February 17, 2025, and failure to do so would result in the removal of their apps from the App Store.

According to data from Appfigures (via TechCrunch), over 135,000 apps whose developers did not provide trader data have been removed from the App Stores across EU member states over the last two days. This would mark the single largest removal of apps from the platform since its inception.

App Store Connect platform and Trader Information

So, who is considered a trader? Any app that makes money from the App Store from downloads, in-app payments or ads. Organizations must provide their phone, email, and address associated with their Data Universal Numbering System (DUNS) number, while individual developers need to provide their address, phone, and email. The removed apps will stay hidden until their developers update their trader status via the App Store Connect platform.

Source | Via