Global tech giant Apple has removed up to 25,000 apps said to be related to gambling from its App Store in China following criticism from state-backed broadcaster China Central Television (CCTV).
The company’s rapid response involved the removal of apps said to include gambling and lottery features, with a number of users having complained about losing money through them.
In a statement, Apple said, “Gambling apps are illegal and not allowed on the App Store in China.
“We have already removed many apps and developers for trying to distribute illegal gambling apps on our App Store and we are vigilant in our efforts to find these and stop them from being on the App Store.”
Apple didn’t confirm the exact number of apps removed, however CCTV said that 4,000 had been removed last weekend alone. China is considered to be Apple’s biggest global market outside of the US.
In its report, CCTV said, “Apple itself has set up the rules on how to allow apps onto its store, but it didn’t follow that, resulting in the proliferation of bogus lottery apps and gambling apps.”
Google’s Play Store, which is used on the majority of the world’s Android phones, is already banned in China.
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