Apple has finally allowed two developers to promote mask-wearing sticker pack apps for iOS, after rejecting them initially. According to The Verge, Apple earlier suggested that these developments were making “inappropriate references to the Covid-19 pandemic.”
Apple replied to the publisher that not only does the company not have any rules about mask-wearing stickers, but that both of these examples are totally ok and both developers have since confirmed that Apple has approved their apps.
“Apple called to clarify. Said there is no problem, content is approved. Said depiction of masks and handwashing in our app Emoji Me Animated Faces is fine. The policy is intended for apps that are marketed as Covid apps,” Mark Johnson, one of the developers said in a tweet. However, it is not quite clear why they were rejected earlier.
“Got a call from the App Store and I’m clear to add the masks back into the next update,” said Jen Lewis, another developer.
Apple said it’s been careful only to let medical institutions and official health agencies mention “Covid-19” in their app names or metadata.
