Global Cyber Ethics - Final Presentation *Fixing audio issues

1. Apple Guidelines for
App Approval
Global Cyber Ethics
ISM 4041
By: Amanda Blakley

2. The App Store
• Launched in 2008
• 2.2 million available applications
• 2017 revenue: $ 46.6 billion USD
• 44.3% share of smartphone market
• Google Play is main competitor
Sources:
https://www.statista.com/statistics/2665672/market-share-held-by-smartphone-platforms-in-the-united-states/
http://www.businessofapps.com/data/app-statistics

3. The Guidelines & Review Process
• Developers must consider content, security, compatibility, design and legal
requirements
• Approval process takes 1 - 3 days
• Content cannot “cross the line”
Sources:
https://www.developer.apple.com/app-store/review
Course handout, p. 82

4. The South Park App
• Rejected in 2010
• Contained potentially “offensive content”
• Reviewal process lacked transparency
• Episodes available for purchase through iTunes
• Other apps refused on specious grounds
Sources:
Course handout, p. 82 - 83
https://motherboard.vice.com/en_us/article/a3dwq8/apples-long-history-of-rejecting-objectionable-content-fromt-the-app-store

5. FTC Investigation
• Apple banned the use of Adobe Flash on iOS devices
• In 2010, Adobe filed a complaint with the U.S. Federal Trade
Commission
• Jobs responded to Adobe in an open letter
• Did Apple violate anti-trust laws?
Sources:
https://appleinsider.com/articles/10/08/05/ftc_believed_to_be_investigating_apples_anti_flash_stance

6. Ethical Dilemma
• To what extent should Apple balance software content and quality concerns with
other factors in crafting its Application Review Guidelines?
Sources:
Ethics In Information Technology

7. Discussion Questions
1. Should Apple conduct extensive screening of apps
before they are allowed to be sold on the App
Store? Why or why not?
2. Do research to determine the current status of the
FTC investigation of Apple for banning the use of
Adobe Flash software on devices that use the iOS
operating system.
3. What do you think of Apple’s guideline that says it
will reject an app for any content or behavior that
they believe is “over the line”? Could such a
statement be constructed as a violation of the
developer’s freedom of speech? Why or why not?
Sources:
Course handout, p. 83

8. Discussion Questions
1. Should Apple conduct extensive screening of apps before they are allowed to be
sold on the App Store? Why or why not?
Sources:
https://theconsversation.com/the-ethics-of-apples-closed-ecosystem-app-store-99024

9. The Debate
Pros
• Battery life
• Hardware integrity
• Security issues
• High quality software
Cons
• Limits free expression
• Stifles innovation
• Anti-competitive practices
• Lack of consumer choice
Sources:
Course handout, p. 82
https://www.mobiloud.com/blog/avoid-app-rejected-apple

10. Discussion Questions
2. Do research to determine the current status of the FTC investigation of Apple for
banning the use of Adobe Flash software on devices that use the iOS operating
system.
Sources:
https://www.forbes.com/sites/greatspeculations/2011/11/09/adobes-flash-surrender-proves-steve-jobs-and-apple-were-right-all-along-with-
html5/#7de7f68921c3

11. Discussion Questions
3. What do you think of Apple’s guideline that says it will reject an app for any
content or behavior that they believe is “over the line”? Could such a statement be
constructed as a violation of the developer’s freedom of speech? Why or why not?
Sources:
https://www.uscourts.gov/about-federal-courts/educational-resources/

12. Suggestions
App rating system
More human content reviewers
User feedback

13. Additional References
• https://www.cnet.com/news/steve-jobs-prevails-
over-adobes-flash
• https://appleinsider.com/articles/10/08/05/ftc_believ
ed_to_be_investigating_apples_anti_flash_stance
• https://gizmodo.com/did-ftc-probe-cause-apple-to-
change-app-rules-5634234