Apple App Store Hosts Significantly More Apps From Sanctioned Entities Than Google Play
Apple’s carefully curated ecosystem has long been praised for its stringent control and attention to detail. However, a recent report from the Tech Transparency Project (TTP) challenges this perception by revealing that Apple’s App Store hosts a notably higher number of apps linked to US-sanctioned entities compared to Google’s Play Store. According to the findings, 52 such apps were found on Apple’s platform, while Google’s store contained only 18.
Details of the Sanctioned Apps and Methodology
The TTP conducted an extensive investigation by utilising the US Treasury Department’s Specially Designated Nationals (SDNs) list, which identifies entities subject to US sanctions. By removing common suffixes like Inc. and LLC from the names on the list, the researchers used a Python script to search for these entities across the Apple App Store and Google Play Store domains. This automated approach was supplemented with manual checks to ensure accuracy.
Among the sanctioned entities identified were Russian financial institutions such as Gazprombank and National Standard Bank, both blacklisted for their involvement in supporting the war in Ukraine. Additionally, apps linked to China’s Xinjiang Production and Construction Corps (XPCC), an organisation under scrutiny for human rights abuses against the Uyghur minority, were also found.
Responses and Historical Context
Following the report, Google took swift action by removing all but one of the flagged apps from its Play Store. Apple, however, removed only 35 of the 52 apps during the investigation period, which spanned from mid-2025 to November 2025. Seventeen apps disappeared during this time, indicating a slower response compared to Google.
This is not the first time Apple has faced criticism over its handling of sanctioned apps. In 2019, the company was fined $466,912 by the US government for failing to remove an app connected to a sanctioned Slovenian drug trafficker. Apple committed to improving its sanctions screening processes then, but the latest findings suggest that the measures in place remain insufficient.
Implications for Apple’s App Store
The report adds to growing concerns about the challenges facing Apple’s App Store. With increasing competition from third-party app stores, especially in regions like the European Union where regulatory changes are encouraging alternative marketplaces, the App Store’s control and reputation appear to be under pressure. The presence of sanctioned apps undermines trust and highlights potential gaps in Apple’s oversight mechanisms.
As regulatory scrutiny intensifies and geopolitical tensions continue to influence technology platforms, Apple will likely need to enhance its app vetting processes to maintain compliance and user confidence.
Overall, this report sheds light on a significant issue within Apple’s ecosystem that could have broader implications for app security and regulatory adherence moving forward.