Apple’s ‘Private and Secure Payment System’ Warning Notice ⇥ mjtsai.com

Viktor Maric:

first time seeing this. Apple will punish the apps with external payment system

Maric includes a screenshot of an App Store listing for Instacar, which features a exclamation mark-decorated banner at the top reading “This app does not support the App Store’s private and secure payment system. It uses external purchases.”

Via Michael Tsai:

It’s confusing to follow all the changes, but apparently — unlike in the US — external purchases in the EU don’t need to have corresponding IAP versions.

You have probably already seen this, but I am catching up on a week’s worth of news. And the thing about waiting a week to write about it is that it already generated substantial discussion, including a response from Apple.

Sarah Perez, TechCrunch:

However, the iPhone maker confirmed to TechCrunch that these user-disclosure screens have been live on the EU App Store since the beginning of Apple’s DMA Compliance Plan back in March 2024. They were not newly added, as some had reported.

[…]

In its response to TechCrunch, Apple also noted that it intended to update the message after initial pushback. In August 2024, the company announced a series of changes to its DMA plan that would have included a change to the user disclosure screen. Instead of warning users of the dangers of using external purchases, the new message would have read: “Transactions in this app are supported by the developer and not Apple.” (See below).

Apple wanted to scare users, as we learned during its U.S. trial; its preference would have been the terrifying phrasing. But it softened the language — how much is the result of public criticism and how much is because of regulators’ concerns is a good question.

In any case, does this message show on listings for any applications accepting payments through means other than In-App Purchases? I assume Apple is not warning users about the dangers of paying for a ride through Uber or a hotel room through Kayak. But subscribing to something without using Apple’s own payment mechanism? May as well shout your credit card number in a crowded room.

It is not like Apple is taking an elevated level of responsibility for payments made through In-App Purchases, either. This warning tone carried through in documentation may not be lying to users, but it is bullshitting them and that, in most places, is not a sign of trust or respect. Perhaps things are different in Silicon Valley.