AltStore introduces app focused on CSAM transparency in app stores

AltStore has released a new app designed to monitor whether app marketplaces distribute apps that provide access to child sexual abuse material (CSAM). The tool, called CSAM Store Checker positions itself as a transparency mechanism focused on marketplace-level accountability rather than individual users.

According to the developers, the app allows users to check specific app marketplaces to see whether they host or distribute apps where CSAM can be accessed. The release follows recent controversy surrounding the availability of CSAM-related content on high-profile platforms, which Testut and Gill argue violates existing App Store rules but has not resulted in removals.

CSAM Store Checker compiles publicly available reference articles and reporting to support its assessments. The developers said the goal is to clearly distinguish between individual apps linked to CSAM access and the marketplaces that continue to allow those apps to be distributed. By centralizing this information, the app aims to make enforcement gaps more visible to users, developers, and platform operators.

Alongside the app’s launch, Testut and Gill announced a temporary financial commitment tied to the initiative. All of their Patreon earnings from now through February will be donated to Protect All Children from Trafficking (PACT), a nonprofit organization focused on preventing child exploitation and trafficking. PACT is also involved in education efforts around CSAM prevention and was instrumental in the passage of the REPORT Act in 2024, which expanded legal requirements for technology companies to detect and report online child exploitation.

The developers framed the app and donation effort as a response to what they describe as inconsistent enforcement of platform policies related to CSAM. CSAM Store Checker is now available, with further updates expected as additional marketplaces and documentation are reviewed.