Apple removes bittorrent app from App Store

An app that made it possible to download torrents to iOS devices has nevertheless been removed from the App Store. Initially, Apple allowed the app, because it could only download legal content, but that changed after an update.

Apple initially allowed the app, Blue Downloader, making it the only app in the App Store that could download torrents to an iOS device. However, Apple has since reversed that decision and the app has been removed.

That seems to be at least partly the result of an update to the app. Initially, the app, Blue Downloader, only allowed users to download torrents from certain legal sources, such as Archive.org. However, an update to the app made it possible to find torrents via Google and then download them, Cult of Mac reports.

The app’s developer, Tyler Harrisson, says Apple explained that the app was removed for providing access to illegal content. Still, he wonders whether the update of the app was the cause: he states that Apple has an “intrinsic fear of bittorrent” and would never have wanted to allow the app. The vague description of the app is said to have led to it going undetected by the controllers.