Damus, a decentralized social media platform built on the leading decentralized social media protocol Nostr, announced that the application would be removed by the App Store within 14 days. As per Damus’ announcement, the multinational technology company Apple has informed that Damus’ lightning wallet, Zap, is not allowed on the platform, as it “could be used by content creators to sell digital content”.
On June 13, Damus shared a Twitter thread informing its community regarding the removal of the app from the App Store:
Damus will be removed from the app store in 14 days, apple says zaps are not allowed on their platform because they *could* be used by content creators to sell digital content. This is right before we’re about to give our talk at the oslo freedom forum on how decentralized social… pic.twitter.com/uAK1U0UBet
— Damus⚡️ (@damusapp) June 13, 2023
According to a screenshot shared by Damus, Apple has sent the platform an official message, informing the team of the company’s move, alleging that the platform has violated the App Store Review Guidelines. The message quoted:
We noticed that your app allows users to send “tips” associated with receiving content from digital content creators with a mechanism other than in-app purchase. Although tips or donations may be optional, if they are connected to or associated with receiving digital content, they must use in-app purchase in accordance with guideline 3.1.1.
The message also asked Damus to submit an update within 14 days, a failure of which would force the company to remove the app from Apple’s App Store. It was also added that any future non-compliance with the company’s rules would push Damus to succumb to Apple’s decision.
Reiterating the sudden action required from Damus, Apple highlighted that the Testflight version of the app would also be unavailable and would stop functioning, once the app is removed from sale. According to Apple’s statement, an updated version of Damus that resolves these issues is required for the further existence of the app on the App Store.
Addressing the situation, Damus came forward calling it 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.
Damus asserted that Apple’s statement was released when the platform was preparing to address the financial freedom that the decentralized social networks with lightning integration bestow the masses at the Oslo Freedom Forum, a global gathering of human rights.
