Apple’s new App Store rule for easier account and data deletion hits June 30th

Illustration by Alex Castro / The Verge

Apple made a number of policy changes for the App Store during the event, including adjusting the rules for bounty hunting and whether or not Roblox is a game. Apple is reminding developers that it is ready to flip the switch on some policy updates that were previously delayed.

As of June 30th, the App Store will have two rule changes: a requirement that paid online group services use its in-app payment system, and a requirement that developers offer easy account deletions within any app that allows users.

The policy about online group services was not part of the set of changes, but has been delayed three times. The first delay came in 2020 after Facebook complained that it would unfairly impact vulnerable small businesses. The policy about allowing users to initiate account deletion from within an app was set to take effect in January.

We don't expect to see any more delays now that Apple has pushed the deadline for both changes out another few months to June 30th. There is a note about the account deletion requirement, which you can read below, but both policies are mentioned on the upcoming changes page for developers.

Apple account deletion requirements:

The account deletion option should be easy to find in your app.

If your app offers Sign in with Apple, you’ll need to use the Sign in with Apple REST API to revoke user tokens when deleting an account.

It’s insufficient to only provide the ability to temporarily disable or deactivate an account. People should be able to delete the account along with their personal data.

Apps in highly-regulated industries may provide additional customer service flows to confirm and facilitate the account deletion process.

Follow applicable legal requirements for storing and retaining user account information, and for handling account deletion. This includes complying with local laws in different countries or regions. As always, check with your legal counsel.