After several deaths, Apple removes electronic cigarette apps from the App Store

After several deaths, Apple removes electronic cigarette apps from the App Store

Turn and move we see Apple doing a certain “clean” in App Store, either by removing applications that are basically clones, some that only try to deceive users, others that simply do not conform to the rules established by the company for their store, among other reasons. And this week, Apple is putting in place yet another cleaning.

According to the Axios, applications electronic cigarettes (we’re talking about 181 apps in all) are being removed from the store. The reason? In the United States, at least 42 people died of lung diseases related to these cigarettes – in addition to more than 2,000 cases of lung problems – according to the Center for Disease Control and Prevention.

Since June, Apple was no longer accepting to make new electronic cigarette apps available on the App Store; now, with the exclusion of those that were already being offered, it completes the cycle and ends the disclosure of vapes within your ecosystem.

Apple gave the following statement to Axios:

We take great care with curating the App Store so that it is a trusted place for customers, particularly young people, to download apps. We are constantly evaluating apps and consulting the latest evidence to determine the risks to users’ health and well-being.

Recently, experts ranging from the Center for Disease Control and Prevention to the American Heart Association have attributed a variety of lung injuries and fatalities to electronic cigarette products and vaping, even calling the dissemination of these devices of public health crisis and youth epidemic.

We agree and update our App Store Review Guidelines to reflect that applications which encourage or facilitate the use of these products are not permitted. Currently, these applications are no longer available for download.

Apple’s attitude was highly praised by Matthew L. Myers, president of the children’s tobacco campaign:

The campaign for tobacco-free children applauds Apple for taking this important step and doing its part to tackle the youth electronic cigarette epidemic. By removing electronic cigarette-related apps from the App Store, Apple will help reduce youth exposure to e-cigarette marketing and discourage youth use of these products. Apple is setting a welcome example of corporate responsibility to protect our children.

Obviously, as always happens in these cases, anyone who has downloaded any of these apps will still have access to them in their current versions.

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