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While browsing iOS App Store, I happened upon an app review filled with an antisemitic rant (the reviewer was complaining about the impact of micro transactions on the game by calling developers “greedy Jews”). The review is older than a year, so, if the developer ever reads reviews, they already saw it, so I doubt me writing another review notifying the developer would have any effect. Anyway I don’t know whether developers can remove reviews they don’t like.

My main question is, can I, being a user and not a developer, somehow notify Apple to take down that review?

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  • 1
    You could develop thicker skin. Life is full of unpleasant things. – horse hair Jun 5 at 22:39
  • As a side note, developers apparently can indeed remove reviews they don't like. I've had a couple binned. – user207421 Jun 5 at 23:17
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There is a direct way of reporting these concerns, although Apple does not make it obvious how to do it, unfortunately.

Go to the review in question and press & hold (long press) on it, and you will see this pop-up:

Feedback

Tap on "Report a Concern" and it will bring up this window:

Report a Concern

"It contains offensive material" seems like an appropriate choice.

You will be given a text box to explain why you think it is offensive.

Can't say that anything will actually happen with it, but I'd wager it's the best chance you have of getting someone's attention.

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    Great find. I wonder if on macOS there’s a control. – bmike♦ Jun 3 at 3:32
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    In the Mac App Store, there is a "report a concern" link which is much more prominent. Since Apple took iOS apps out of iTunes I don't think there's any way to even view them on the Mac. – TJ Luoma Jun 3 at 4:32
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Since Apple runs the store, contacting the developer is an indirect way to get it looked at.

Use the contact us link if you’ve purchased the app as there is no direct web link to report a violation of terms.

If you are not a customer of Apple selling you that app, you would need to use the general feedback mechanism.

Unless the slander or offensive conduct is worth legal action, you probably won’t get a good response from Apple legal, but if there is a violation of law in your jurisdiction, then Apple legal has an email address for legal processes.

Once you’ve sent feedback including screen shots and a short summary of why you feel aggrieved by Apple hosting a review on their store front, maybe contact Apple Support to be sure a human knows you had this issue and confirm you reported it to the correct group / advocate.

https://support.apple.com/apps

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