ScribeMe’s removal from App Store

ScribeMe App was really helpful for hundreds of visually impaired people, it helps them to practice their daily lives easier than before , please make it available again on the App store

I am writing as a blind user who relied on ScribeMe every single day, and I want to make something absolutely clear: removing this app was not a business decision — it was a decision that directly harmed thousands of disabled people without warning, without alternatives, and without any apparent consideration for the consequences. ScribeMe was not a convenience for me. It was how I accessed visual information that the sighted world takes for granted — documents, photos, charts, unfamiliar environments. Its sudden disappearance left a void that no other app has yet filled. What makes this even more painful is the broader pattern we are witnessing. Apple has long positioned itself as a champion of accessibility. VoiceOver, Switch Control, and many other features have genuinely changed lives. But actions speak louder than marketing. When accessibility-critical apps are terminated without human review, without appeal, without even basic communication to the affected developers — that is not a company that takes accessibility seriously. That is a company that treats it as a checkbox. I am calling on Apple to do three things: First, conduct an immediate manual review of this case with the involvement of the Accessibility team, not just the standard App Review process. Second, establish a clear and protected process for accessibility-focused apps — one that recognizes their unique impact and ensures that developers receive proper warnings, explanations, and the opportunity to resolve issues before termination. Third, acknowledge publicly that this removal harmed real users and commit to preventing similar situations in the future. Blind and visually impaired users are not a niche audience to be accommodated. We are customers, developers, students, and professionals who deserve the same stability and reliability from the App Store as anyone else. The developer of ScribeMe clearly built something that genuinely mattered. Apple should be supporting that mission, not ending it without notice.​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​

It is honestly heartbreaking to see a company that constantly speaks about accessibility remove an accessibility app used daily by blind and visually impaired users without warning, without explanation, and without any visible human review.

ScribeMe was not just another app on the App Store. For thousands of users, it was part of their daily life. People relied on it to study, understand documents, navigate visual information, read charts, recognize environments, and live more independently.

Yet the app was suddenly removed, the developer account terminated, and weeks later there is still no real clarification about what exactly happened or what specific issue caused this decision. No meaningful communication. No chance to properly resolve the situation before permanently cutting access to a tool many people depended on every single day.

When accessibility tools disappear overnight, the damage is not only financial or technical. Real people suffer. Students lose independence. Blind users lose access to information most people take for granted.

What makes this even more painful is that Apple presents itself as one of the biggest supporters of accessibility in the world. Accessibility should never be treated like an automated checkbox handled without care, context, or human consideration.

Apps that directly impact the lives of disabled users deserve proper human review, transparency, communication, and fairness before irreversible actions are taken.

Because accessibility is not a feature.For many people, it is a lifeline.

I have used this app recently to read important documents regarding the sale of my house that were previously inaccessible to me due to PDF documents not being accessible with VoiceOver on iPhone. I am genuinely gutted that this app has been removed and I really hope that it is reinstated soon so many more people can get the benefit of it

I agree. I use this app a lot. It’s very helpful for accessibility and the blind. For making the content inaccessible accessible. Finding a last item or knowing my surroundings. Hope Apple would reconsider that.

I have Been using This up from the beginning, it is, and has Been, a game Changer for Me from the start. this Is Not simply andother app being removed. it Ass very fast become my Life Line, with This up I Can Do so much More, by myself, total Independent from sighted Assistance.

Many of the apps users cannot make their own post in This forum, I am posting This on behalf of Thousands of blind people all over the Globe.I’m a blind Apple Customer and iOS betatester. I Was really shot when I Got Information that scribeme Was removed from App Store Without Notice

I have used ScribeMe not only to get instruction manuals that were unaccessible PDFs into a manageable form that I could actually read, but also to use ScribeMe with the meta Rayban glasses. This enabled me to be able to navigate outside successfully and to know of any obstacles in my path. It gave me a scene by scene description giving me vital clues to my environment, helping me keep safe. It is a great pity that Apple has decided to remove this app from the App Store. It is an absolute game changer for Blind and visually impaired people who rely on this type of technology to be able to navigate the world in a safe and consistent way.

As a developer who worked on ScribeMe, I’ve seen firsthand how much this app helped blind and visually impaired users in their daily lives.

For many users, it was more than just another AI app. It was a real accessibility tool that supported education, independence, and access to visual information.

I truly hope this situation receives a careful human review. Accessibility-focused apps have a real impact on people’s lives, and losing them suddenly affects an entire community that depends on them every day.

Accessibility should always remain a priority.

Hello,

I am an active user of the Scribe Me app. Scribe Me is honestly one of the best tools we currently have. Thanks to the Live Assist feature, despite being blind, I am able to travel independently, understand what is happening around me, notice interesting shops or cafés nearby, and generally navigate everyday life much more freely. Scribe Me helps me in all kinds of daily situations.

That is why I was shocked to discover that Scribe Me had been removed from the App Store. This significantly limits my ability to access information about my surroundings. Since Apple’s reasons for removing the app are unclear, one could even see possible signs of discrimination here.

To conclude, I am attaching my video showing how Scribe Me helps me explore and understand the environment around me. I sincerely hope for understanding, and I truly hope this app will be returned to the App Store in the near future.

https://youtu.be/rxhSEzXiWEI?is=kGT8lko35_I3AfNk