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iOS
Apple's operating system for the iPhone; apps are distributed through Apple's App Store. Website ↗
Who runs it
Documented facts (11)
Confirmed it had removed Blued and Finka, two of China's most popular gay dating apps, from its Chinese App Store on the order of the Cyberspace Administration of China.
Response: Apple said the removal was "based on an order from the Cyberspace Administration of China" and that it must follow the laws of the countries where it operates.
Removed Eyes Up, an app that archived TikToks, Instagram reels, news reports and videos documenting abuses by Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) officers, from the App Store on October 3, 2025, according to its administrator. 404 Media reported that the app had been swept up in Apple's and Google's crackdown on ICE-spotting apps, which started after Department of Justice pressure on Apple to remove ICEBlock, although Eyes Up did not report sightings of ICE officers in real time. Engadget reported that Apple had removed ICEBlock the previous week following, according to Fox Business, a direct request from Attorney General Pam Bondi, and that Eyes Up remained available on the Google Play Store.
Response: According to 404 Media, as reported by Engadget, Apple said it removed Eyes Up for violating its "objectionable content" policy and because it had received information from law enforcement that the app was used "to provide location information about law enforcement officers that can be used to harm such officers individually or as a group."
Removed ICEBlock, an app for reporting the presence of Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents, and similar apps from the App Store after the US Attorney General Pam Bondi said the Justice Department had demanded it.
Response: Apple said it removed the app "based on information we've received from law enforcement about the safety risks associated with ICEBlock". The app's creator, Joshua Aaron, said he was "incredibly disappointed by Apple's actions".
Listed by the White House among the donors funding President Donald Trump's ballroom. Individual amounts were not disclosed. The Washington Post later reported that Apple pledged $25 million, among the largest donations.
In the Oval Office, gave Donald Trump a customized glass plaque mounted on a 24-karat gold stand while announcing $100 billion in additional Apple investment in US manufacturing. Trump said he planned a 100% tariff on semiconductor chips, which companies building in the United States, such as Apple, would avoid.
Personally donated $1 million to Donald Trump's 2025 inaugural fund.
Removed WhatsApp and Threads from its App Store in China on the order of the Cyberspace Administration of China, which cited national security concerns.
Response: Apple said: "We are obligated to follow the laws in the countries where we operate, even when we disagree."
Removed Quran Majeed, one of the most popular Quran apps, from its App Store in China following a request from Chinese officials; the BBC understood it was removed for hosting illegal religious texts.
Response: Apple declined to comment and referred to its human rights policy, which states it is "required to comply with local laws".
Removed the Smart Voting app of jailed opposition leader Alexei Navalny's allies from its Russian App Store as parliamentary elections began, after Russia demanded the removal and said a refusal would be treated as meddling in the election.
Removed HKmap.live, a crowdsourced map of police positions used during the Hong Kong anti-government protests, from the App Store, a day after the Chinese Communist Party newspaper People's Daily attacked Apple over the app.
Response: Apple said the app "has been used to target and ambush police" and "threaten public safety". Tim Cook told employees Apple had received "credible information" that it was being "used maliciously". The app's developers said there was "0 evidence" to support the accusation that the app had been used to target and ambush police.
Removed VPN apps used to bypass China's internet censorship, including ExpressVPN, from its App Store in China after the government required VPN providers to hold a state licence.
Response: Apple said: "We have been required to remove some VPN apps in China that do not meet the new regulations. These apps remain available in all other markets where they do business."