Apple Rejects Encrypted IM App On 'Illegitimate' Grounds, Developer Claims

by Joe White

December 28, 2013

Cryptocat is an encrypted desktop instant messaging (IM) service that hoped to make the leap to iOS before the end of 2013. But according to the application’s developer, Apple’s App Store approval team rejected Cryptocat for iOS and cited “illegitimate” reasons, indicating that ultra-secure, encrypted messaging apps may never make it to our iDevices.

The news hit the Web in a Twitter update from Cryptocat’s Nadim Kobeissi (@kaepora), in which Apple was lambasted for its decision to reject the iOS application. Kobeissi’s update read:

Cryptocat for iPhone was just rejected from the Apple app store. NDA doesn’t allow me to discuss openly but reasons are truly illegitimate.

In a subsequent Twitter update, Kobeissi added: “One of the reasons for Cryptocat for iPhone’s rejection by Apple strongly implies that any other encrypted group chat app can be rejected.”

This is odd, however, given that Cryptocat is already available for OS X in Apple’s Mac App Store. The iOS App Store and the Mac App Store feature similar guidelines for app submissions, though it could be that some nuance prohibits apps such as Cryptocat from launching for the iPhone, iPad, and iPod touch.

Cryptocat offers end-to-end encryption for users of its service, and given the recent debacle concerning government surveillance of computers and mobile devices, it’s gained a sizeable user base. There’s no doubt a Cryptocat for iOS app would be appreciated by iDevice owners, yet it seems for now that we’ll have to make do with the app’s rejection and hope a solution is found in the near future. In the past, rejected iOS apps have appeared in the Cydia Store, though whether this is a viable option for Cryptocat remains to be seen.

We’ll keep you updated with further information as we receive it.

In the meantime, see: Square Enix’s Huge Holiday App Sale Just Got Even Bigger, This Upcoming Jailbreak Tweak Can Bring Touch ID Protection To Individual iOS Apps, and This Year Santa Claus Brought AppleCare Employees Jackets, Pens And Notebooks.

Via: The Verge