Legal firm had said Real World Portal encouraged misogyny and there was evidence to suggest it is an illegal pyramid scheme

Apple has withdrawn an app created by Andrew Tate after accusations that it encouraged misogyny and could be an illegal pyramid scheme.

Tate created the app, Real World Portal, after the closure of his “Hustler’s University”, which was an online academy for his fans, promising to assist them in making thousands of pounds while helping Tate’s videos on social media, which have been described as misogynistic, to go viral.

McCue Jury & Partners, the firm representing four British women who have accused Tate of sexual and physical assault, claimed that the app deliberately targets young men and encourages misogyny, including members of the app sharing techniques on how to control and exploit women. The firm has also claimed that there is evidence to suggest that the app is an illegal pyramid scheme, with members being charged $49.99 a month to join.

Last week, the Real World Portal app was removed from Google’s Play store after claims that it was an illegal pyramid scheme and encouraged misogyny.

On Friday night Apple also said it had removed it from its app store. It followed a letter from the legal firm asking Apple to consider whether the app was in line with its policies and whether the company was exposing itself to any corporate liability in hosting it on its platform.

Part of the letter, dated 15 September, said: “We are writing because our clients are extremely concerned that you are hosting Tate’s Real World Portal (RWP) mobile application on your Apple Store … In continuing to host RWP, not only is Apple potentially indirectly financing Tate’s alleged criminal activities but is aiding the spread of his misogynistic teachings.”

The firm had claimed that Apple was directly profiting from hosting the app, with the company taking 30% in royalties from apps and in-app purchases.

Four women in their late 20s and early 30s are pursuing civil proceedings against Tate over alleged offences between 2013 and 2016 while he was still living in the UK.

Before the news that Apple had withdrawn the app, Matt Jury, the lawyer representing the women, said: “Andrew and [his brother] Tristan Tate manipulate their significant online following to promote subscriptions to Real World Portal. From there, the benefits to users are entirely reliant upon new subscribers joining the platform.

“There is also significant evidence that this scheme is directly targeting boys and teenagers and, in my view, is nothing more than an exploitative app which has no place on Apple’s platform.”

Tate is awaiting trial in Romania on charges of human trafficking. He and Tristan were charged in June, along with two Romanian female suspects, with human trafficking, rape and forming a criminal gang to sexually exploit women. The suspects have denied the allegations.

A spokesperson for Andrew Tate said: “We unequivocally deny the allegations that ‘The Real World’ app operates as a pyramid scheme or perpetuates harmful techniques aimed at exploiting any individuals, particularly women. The user community, which includes a significant number of women within the 200,000-strong user base, can attest to the positive impact and educational value the app provides.

“Accusations suggesting otherwise are unfounded, lacking credible evidence, and seem to be part of a targeted campaign against Andrew Tate, a known supporter and promoter of the platform. ‘The Real World’ maintains a commitment to complete transparency, ensuring compliance with all legal and ethical standards. We invite sceptics to examine the app independently and affirm that it operates in accordance with legal and moral requirements.

“The platform is designed as an educational tool that fosters healthy habit formation, financial literacy, and self-discipline, with thousands of lives positively impacted. The decision by Google Play is being appealed.”

  • SuddenlyBlowGreen@lemmy.worldEnglish
    8·
    1 year ago

    Should the service providers that host PWAs and their databases be forced to serve them if their content violates their policies?

    • jet@hackertalks.comEnglish
      49·
      1 year ago

      No, as private companies they can have AUPs.

      But if you view internet service providers, as common carriers, i.e. telecommunition utilities - then yes they should be forced to, unless it’s illegal.

      But let’s say the unpopular app is self hosting its own website, serving its own PWA from its own servers, as long as there isn’t a court order, I don’t think utilities should shut them down.

      • SuddenlyBlowGreen@lemmy.worldEnglish
        5·
        1 year ago

        But if you view internet service providers, as common carriers, i.e. telecommunition utilities - then yes they should be forced to, unless it’s illegal.

        Forced to how exactly? This isn’t forcing a company to provide water for an individual, this is forcing a company to provide non-essential services to a business.

        Can the provider raise prices? Can they change their contract? Are they forced to provide these services in perpetuity?

        But let’s say the unpopular app is self hosting its own website, serving its own PWA from its own servers, as long as there isn’t a court order, I don’t think utilities should shut them down.

        Oh, that would be great actually, I hope they do that.

        That way, they’ll get doxed within 5.2 seconds of the app going live and everybody will know the people on the app.

        • jet@hackertalks.comEnglish
          47·
          1 year ago

          If you view them as private companies, then they can have opinions and they can’t be forced.

          If you view them as utilities, like the water company and the power company, then they have to be forced to provide equal services for equal pay to all people.

          It’s up to you to decide which internet infrastructure counts as utility, there’s a lot of debate around that.

          I would also like them to self host. I’m not sure they’d get doxed, we know it’s Andrew Tate after all, but they would get DDoSed. Plus his fans tend to be the kind of people who tell you they’re his fans. And they follow him on social media. They’re not exactly hiding

          • SuddenlyBlowGreen@lemmy.worldEnglish
            4·
            1 year ago

            If you view them as utilities, like the water company and the power company, then they have to be forced to provide equal services for equal pay to all people.

            To businesses too? Are water and power companies forced to provide services to any and all businesses?

            I’m not sure they’d get doxed, we know it’s Andrew Tate after all, but they would get DDoSed.

            Well, I assume he’s not the only one to participate on his forum or website.

            Plus his fans tend to be the kind of people who tell you they’re his fans.

            I’m not concerned about the ones that do, I’m concerned about the ones that don’t.

            They’re not exactly hiding

            But you wouldn’t know about the ones hiding, because they would be… hiding.

            • jet@hackertalks.comEnglish
              45·
              1 year ago

              Public Utilities are required to provide services to the public without discrimination, or personal agenda. That is why they are utilities.

              Scenario:

              1. Power company decided it wouldn’t power specific religious buildings because they disagree with that faith

              2. Telephone company refuses to install telephone lines to black owned businesses

              3. Trash company refuses to pick up trash of Democrat election office

              4. ISP refuses to provide service to local pro-immigrate human rights group

              In all of these scenarios they would be in violation of the public trust. Lawsuits at the very least, and probably changing the utility company with the local monopoly.