In the 5th Edition book by George W Reyonlds Ethics in Infor

In the 5th Edition book by George W. Reyonlds. Ethics in Information Technology, the 2nd Case on page 289-290: Apple Guidelines for App Approval. The 3rd question is:

What do you think of Apple\'s guidance that says it will reject an app for any content of behavior that they believe is \"over the line\"? Could such a statement be construed as a violation of the developer\'s freedom of speech? Why or why not?

There was not a solution to this on Chegg.

Solution

This is a debatable question and there isn\'t any fixed answer for this.

However, in my opinion, I would say that Apple wants good quality and widely accepted apps in its AppStore. That could be the reason why they came up with this guideline. This way, Apple is trying to provide security to their users by not allowing the developers to build Apps that could be \"over the line\". The technology is growing nowadays and there is a lot more we can do with a hand-held device. Imagine if someone can use the mobile phone app to easily break an electronic door lock or read another IPhone\'s data without the other user knowing. These could bring up judicial issues and at the end of the day Apple would be questioned as to why there was no proper reviewing of the applications before they went into AppStore. Such an image is not a company like Apple wants. hence this guideline,

Now, whether it is a vioaltion of the developer\'s freedom of speech? Yes, could be. But not in all cases. When the intention behind making the App is good, then it becomes a violation, Otherwise, this guideline (If it really is in use) is only helping the society indirectly.