A new book chapter by Esther Weltevrede, Anne Helmond, Fernando van der Vlist, Stefanie Duguay and Michael Dieter in Content Moderation across Social Media Platforms, edited by Richard Rogers (https://doi.org/10.4324/9781003693192-9).
Gatekeepers of the mobile ecosystem: Understanding app store moderation
The chapter examines how app stores moderate the mobile ecosystem and interact with external regulatory frameworks, including those of the European Union. It shows how Google Play and the Apple App Store act as both facilitators and gatekeepers, shaping which apps are available and accessible, and how developers and users engage with them. Through three case studies, the chapter explores how app stores mediate access to essential information and services while responding to regulatory, social and political pressures.
First, it traces how Apple and Google’s developer policies have changed, including how regulation such as the GDPR and market forces shape developers’ requirements. The second case looks at COVID-19 apps, showing how app stores curated health information, promoted apps from recognized sources and restricted some monetization. The third examines the Russian invasion of Ukraine and its effects on app availability and rankings. VPN apps rose in Russia as people sought to bypass censorship, while apps for secure communication and navigation became more prominent in Ukraine. Together, the cases show how app stores shape access to apps and services during periods of regulatory change and crisis.