The European Union’s Digital Services Act (DSA), which came into effect provisionally in August 2023, has officially become applicable to all online platforms starting February 17, 2024. The DSA introduced new regulations aimed at enhancing consumer protection, with one of the key provisions requiring app developers to declare their “trader status” before submitting new apps or updates for distribution within the EU territory.
As per Articles 30 and 31 of the DSA, app developers must provide their “trader status” to remain in compliance. For business organizations, this means submitting contact information, including phone numbers, email addresses, and physical addresses linked to their Data Universal Numbering System (DUNS). Individual developers are also required to provide their contact details (address, phone, and email).
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Failure to provide the necessary information by February 17, 2025 will result in apps being removed from the App Store in EU member states. Apple has set a hard deadline for developers to meet these requirements, or risk seeing their apps taken down.
As of the last few days, over 135,000 apps whose developers failed to provide their trader data have been removed from the App Store across the EU. According to data gathered by Appfigures (via TechCrunch), this mass removal represents the largest single instance of app removals since the App Store’s launch. These apps will remain hidden from users until their developers update their trader status via the App Store Connect platform.
Who Is Considered a Trader Under the DSA?Any app that generates revenue through downloads, in-app purchases, or ads qualifies as a “trader.” This broad definition includes both individual developers and larger organizations who monetize their apps in any of these ways.
Developers who have had their apps removed need to update their trader status in the App Store Connect platform to have their apps reinstated. The clock is ticking for those who have yet to comply with the regulation, as February 17, 2025 marks the final deadline for providing the required information.
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As the DSA continues to be enforced, app developers worldwide may face increased pressure to meet such regulatory standards, not just within the EU, but as other regions consider similar legislation to protect consumers in the digital age.