MacRumors reports Apple has made changes to the App Store Review guidelines.

MacRumors points out that Apple has introduced a number of new rules pertaining to the expansion of Children’s Online Privacy Protection Act (COPPA) introduced by the U.S. Government earlier in the year.

The new rules prevent developers from collecting photographs, video, and audio from children, in addition to information like name, address, and telephone number, which was restricted previously.

17.3 Apps may ask for date of birth (or use other age-gating mechanisms) only for the purpose of complying with applicable children’s privacy statutes, but must include some useful functionality or entertainment value regardless of the user’s age

17.4 Apps that collect, transmit, or have the capability to share personal information (e.g. name, address, email, location, photos, videos, drawings, persistent identifiers, the ability to chat, or other personal data) from a minor must comply with applicable children’s privacy statutes.

Apple has also added two new guidelines for gambling related apps. According to the new guidelines, apps that offer real money gaming need to be free and are not allowed to offer in-app purchases that allowed users to add credit or currency to their gambling accounts.

20.5 Apps that offer real money gaming (e.g. sports betting, poker, casino games, horse racing) must have necessary licensing and permissions in the locations where the App is used, must be restricted to those locations, and must be free on the App Store

20.6 Apps that use IAP to purchase credit or currency to use in conjunction with real money gaming will be rejected

In addition to this, Apple has also added a guideline which prevents apps “whose use may result in physical harm.” The report also notes that Apple has also tweaked the controversial guideline 2.25, which was used to reject app discovery apps like AppGratis.

Under the new terms, apps that mimic the App Store will not be rejected if they have been approved for a specific need.  

The guideline 2.25 still seems to be quite ambiguous and subjective in our opinion. It’s not clear if it opens the door for apps like AppGratis to be allowed in the App Store.

If you’re a developer, head over to this link to check out the App Review guidelines.