Apple in a mail told Damus that it will remove it’s app from its store for violating one of its guidelines. Apple claimed that users in the Damus app have been sending tips to content creators without using the in-app purchase owned by Apple.
Damus is a decentralized social media app that was launched in February 2023. It is built on the Nostr protocol, which is a decentralized social media platform that allows users to own and control their own data. Damus is backed by Jack Dorsey, the former CEO of Twitter.
It has a number of features that make it different from traditional social media platforms. For example, it allows users to post anonymously, and it does not track user data. Damus also has a built-in Bitcoin tipping feature, which allows users to reward each other for good content.
The Bitcoin tipping function of Damus also known “zaps” is used by users to support content creators on the social media app. It uses the Lightning Network instead of the structure designed by Apple.
14 days ultimatum
According to Apple, the tipping mechanism used by Damus is against its Guideline 3.1.1 which is on payments systems running in the App store. While Apple said it’s in support of donations and tips by such applications, it is important for it to be done via the in app service as against the peer to peer system used by users of Damus.
Furthermore, Apple has given Damus fourteen days to make changes on its app or face the consequences of being removed from the app store. “If we do not receive any update complaint with the App Store Review Guidelines within 14 days, your app will be removed from sale.”
According to Damus, the iPhone maker provided information just a few days before his presentation on how the app is revolutionizing the social media industry.
He said, “this would be a watershed moment: If people can’t transact freely p2p on their platform, this has huge implications for the entire ecosystem of apps with lightning integration and v4v.”
Apple against decentralization?
In 2022, the company announced a 30% commission for all in-app NFT purchases on its platform. This caused a huge backlash from the crypto community. Coinbase said that the plan by Apple is not possible.
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