Provision record
Apple · Apple App Store Review Guidelines · View original document ↗

Ban on pornographic and sexual exploitation content

High severity High confidence Explicit document language Common · 245 of 352 platforms

Key Facts · in the document’s own words

What does Apple prohibit in apps?
“Overtly sexual or pornographic material...This includes "hookup" apps and other apps that may include pornography or be used to facilitate prostitution, or human trafficking and exploitation.”
Version CA-V-003543, captured June 9, 2026 · live source ↗
Our reading, not the document’s words
Apple prohibits overtly sexual or pornographic material in apps, including hookup apps and apps that may include pornography or be used to facilitate prostitution, human trafficking, or exploitation.
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This analysis describes what Apple's agreement states, permits, or reserves. It does not constitute a legal determination about enforceability. Regulatory applicability and practical outcomes may vary by jurisdiction, enforcement context, and individual circumstances. Read our methodology

ConductAtlas Analysis

Why it matters (compliance & governance perspective)

This prohibition removes an entire category of apps and content from the App Store, including apps whose potential for misuse in serious crimes makes them categorically impermissible.

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Interpretive note: The phrase 'may be used to facilitate' sets a low threshold—potential for misuse, not proven misuse, is sufficient for prohibition. The excerpt also uses 'such as' implicitly through its list structure, suggesting the named examples are illustrative.

Consumer impact (what this means for users)

Users will not find overtly sexual, pornographic, hookup, or exploitation-facilitating apps available for download on the App Store.

How other platforms handle this

Netflix Medium

You may access Netflix content primarily within the country in which you have established your account and only in geographic locations where we offer your subscription plan and have licensed such content.

Runway Medium

Gore, such as dismemberment, beheadings, mutilations, and exposed organs/bones/muscle

Ro Medium

post, transmit or otherwise disseminate any content that...is unlawful, harmful, harassing, fraudulent, threatening, abusive, libelous, defamatory, vulgar, obscene, hateful, violent, demeaning, intimidating, discriminatory...

See all platforms with this clause type →
▸ View Original Clause Language DOCUMENT RECORD
"
Overtly sexual or pornographic material...This includes "hookup" apps and other apps that may include pornography or be used to facilitate prostitution, or human trafficking and exploitation.

Excerpt from Apple's App Store Review Guidelines

Provision details

Document information
Document
Apple App Store Review Guidelines
Entity
Apple
Date stated by the document
June 8, 2026
As printed in Apple’s text (version CA-V-003543), not a ConductAtlas date.
Tracking information
First captured by ConductAtlas
March 6, 2026
Text quoted from version
CA-V-003543, captured June 9, 2026
Record ID
CA-P-018764
Document ID
CA-D-000025
Evidence Provenance
Source URL
Wayback Machine
Extracted-text SHA-256 (version CA-V-003543)
d6f788d9cb5c7f40c825f7140b5817478fa8dc9f189b720069a20e53c60a29df
Analysis generated
July 9, 2026 03:44 UTC
Methodology
Evidence
✓ Excerpt found verbatim in version CA-V-003543 (checked Oct. 5, 2026)
Citation Record
Entity: Apple
Document: Apple App Store Review Guidelines
Record ID: CA-P-018764
Version: CA-V-003543
Captured: 2026-06-09 00:07:29 UTC
SHA-256: d6f788d9cb5c7f40…
URL: https://conductatlas.com/platform/apple/apple-app-store-review-guidelines/provision/CA-P-018764/ban-on-pornographic-and-sexual-exploitation-content/
Accessed: Oct. 11, 2026
Permanent archival reference. Stable identifier suitable for legal filings, compliance documentation, and research citation.
Classification
Severity
High
Categories

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Frequently Asked Questions

What does Apple's Ban on pornographic and sexual exploitation content clause do?

This prohibition removes an entire category of apps and content from the App Store, including apps whose potential for misuse in serious crimes makes them categorically impermissible.

How does this clause affect you?

Users will not find overtly sexual, pornographic, hookup, or exploitation-facilitating apps available for download on the App Store.

How many platforms have this type of clause?

ConductAtlas has identified this type of provision across 245 platforms. See the full comparison.

Is ConductAtlas affiliated with Apple?

No. ConductAtlas is an independent monitoring service. We are not affiliated with, endorsed by, or sponsored by Apple.