Apple has issued a warning to decentralized social networking company Damus with a ban from the App Store if it does not remove a feature that enables Bitcoin payments.
Built on top of a decentralized social media protocol Nostr, Damus was developed as an alternative to Twitter and is endorsed by Jack Dorsey. Since its debut in February this year, the app has faced significant difficulties trying to get featured on Apple’s global App Store due to its decentralized nature, which is typically associated with a lack of content moderation.
apple vs. damus
In the latest development, Damus took to Twitter to reveal that the tech giant has given 14 days to remove a feature called “Zaps.” Allows distribution of Bitcoin rewards such as tips through the Lightning Network widget integration. Apple has claimed that that feature violates its in-app purchase requirement.
The social media app attached a screenshot of the tech giant’s warning, which pointed to its feature that allows users to submit “tips” associated with receiving content from digital content creators with a mechanism other than purchase. within the app.
Apple said that “although tips or donations may be optional if they are connected or associated with receiving digital content, you must use in-app purchase in accordance with the guidelines.”
“This would be a watershed moment – if people can’t freely transact p2p on their platform, this has huge implications for the entire app ecosystem with lightning and v4v integration.”
This isn’t the first time Damus has gotten into trouble. Last month, the app was banned from Apple’s App Store in China.
Reaction
Urging Apple to correct its mistake, a creator of Nostr cleared up that users of the Damus app are not “receiving content from digital content creators” and that the content is published on the network through many clients, which is completely free for everyone.
He went on to add that users are not “paying for content” and “nothing is being purchased.”
Several community members drew attention to Twitter itself, which also has a tipping feature and accused Apple play favorites.
Zaps on Twitter alright ✅
zaps in @damusapp bad ❌Damus is forced to remove this feature, what about that? pic.twitter.com/nnq6ytna1I
— Damus ⚡️ (@damusapp) June 13, 2023
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This post Jack Dorsey-Backed Damus Faces Ban From Apple App Store Over Bitcoin Tipping Feature
was published first on https://cryptopotato.com/jack-dorsey-backed-damus-faces-explusion-from-apples-app-store-over-bitcoin-tipping-feature/