Apple Nixes Parenting Apps for iPhone: Here's Why

During the past year, Apple has restricted or removed a collection of third-party software. iOS Apps that help parents manage the iPhone of a child ($ 1,000 at Amazon) and iPad ($ 249 on Amazon) use. Apple said that he had taken the plunge because applications present a risk of privacy and security. At least one of the affected developers says Apple is misleading on his motives and asked that his parental control app be reinstated in the App Store.

The conflict between Apple and the developers of parental control applications is based on the use of MDM, or mobile device management software, in mainstream applications. MDM has been designed for the workplace to help businesses manage and secure the personal mobile devices of workers in a professional environment. In iOS applications, MDM could also be used to limit the amount of time children spend using their devices and managing the applications and websites they access.

Here's what we know about MDM, parental controls and iOS 12 screen time, and what Apple and the iOS developers say about the dispute. Apple has not responded to a request for comment.

What is MDM?

MDM allows employees to use their own devices at their workplace by providing the company with tools to manage and secure employee-owned devices to protect company information. Employees benefit because they can use devices they are familiar with, and companies should not buy mobile devices for workers but continue to enforce password rules, and use encryption to protect employees. company data stored on the device.

What are parental control apps?

Parental Control Apps offers a range of tools to help a parent control the phone of their children. With an app, parents can manage access to apps and games, filter websites, block inappropriate content, set usage limits for devices, track the position of a phone , set up geographic barriers and monitor the activity of calls and publications on social networks. The abilities of parental controls and MDM certainly overlap, but the goals are different: to prevent children from getting into trouble and to protect the data of the company.

Which Apple Apps has Prohibited or Restricted?

Over the past year, according to the New York Times, Apple has banned or restricted 11 third-party apps designed to handle the use of the phone by a child. Among the banned or restricted apps, according to the Times, are OurPact (the first parental control iPhone app before it was banned), Freedom, Kaspersky Lab, Kidslox, Mobicip, and Qustodio.

Why has Apple banned applications from its App Store?

Parental control applications violate the guidelines of the Apple App Store by using MDM to control a child's device, the company said in a statement. According to Apple, MDM is approved for enterprise uses to manage and control employee devices, but not for consumer applications.

In addition, Apple said that MDM applications could be vulnerable to hackers. "Beyond the control that the application can exert itself on the device of the user, research has shown that MDM profiles could be used by hackers to gain access for malicious purposes" said the company.

What does OurPact say, one of the banned application makers?

In a detailed statement, OurPact introduced its side of the story, claiming that MDM was the only way for Apple to allow iOS apps to remotely control apps and features on kids' iPhones and iPads, and challenging Apple's claim that MDM poses a risk to the safety of consumer devices.

Does Apple have its own parental controls for iOS and MacOS?

address the overuse of mobile telephony and dependence, Apple has included Screen Time in iOS 12, which lets you see how much time you and your kids spend on an iPhone or iPad and using apps and websites. With Screen Time, you can also set time limits for a device, disable notifications, and block downloads, purchases, and certain types of content.

Sure MacOS Mojave, Apple offers parental controls that allow parents to administer a child's Mac account to set time limits for weekdays and weekends, and define apps and websites that a child can access.

Where do Apple iOS apps overlap with third-party apps?

Parental control is the latest area where third-party developers have cried foul, claiming that Apple is using its leverage to suppress competition.

Spotify in March claimed Apple uses the power of its app store to stifle the competition. Last year, Apple reportedly pressured Yahoo slow down the development of a games streaming platform. And Apple Arcade, TV Plus, and News More all push the company into closer competition with partners and rivals.

What happens next?

In addition to appealing to Apple for reinstatement, the Times reports that some of the companies involved file complaints with national and international trade organizations, including the European Union.

Originally released on May 3rd at 4:00 pm Pacific Time.