Apple Clashes With UK Regulator in Fierce Response to Warning That Could Require It to 'Redesign the iPhone'

[MacRumors]

Apple has aggressively defended its ecosystem in a newly-published response to the UK's competition watchdog.

The UK's Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) today published Apple's response to its Interim Report on mobile ecosystems, as well responses from dozens of other companies, including Google, Microsoft, and Epic Games.

The detailed 47-page response from Apple aggressively dismissed the conclusions of the Interim Report, saying that the CMA has set the benefits of Apple's ecosystem aside "without reasoned basis, either ignoring them entirely or dismissing them on the basis of nothing more than speculation." Apple alleged that the CMA's report is based on "unsubstantiated allegations and hypothetical concerns" from Apple's rivals that would commercially gain from "deep" changes to the iPhone:

... the IR reaches conclusions about technologies, product design, and competitive impact derived from the unsubstantiated allegations and hypothetical concerns raised primarily by self-serving complaints from a handful of multi-billion dollar developers such as Microsoft, Facebook, Match, Spotify, and Epic, all seeking to make deep changes to the iPhone for their own commercial gain, without independent verification.

Apple expressed intense concerns about potentially having to "redesign the iPhone" to benefit this small, powerful group:

Apple is deeply concerned that the IR is proposing solutions to hypothetical problems that will result in real-world market interventions that could force it to redesign the iPhone to benefit a handful of powerful developers. The IR appears to assume that its proposed changes would be relatively simple. Yet many would require a complete re-architecting of a product that has existed for 15 years, has been constantly improved by Apple’s investment in IP and is valued and trusted by millions of consumers.

The CMA's proposition to allow alternative app stores on the iPhone or sideloading was shot down for "downplaying the security risks" and failing to account for "the fact that users highly value that security, and that many choose Apple over Android on that basis."

Remedies that jeopardize Apple's holistic approach to security would effectively remove the competitive differentiation between Apple and Android, taking this valued element of choice away from users.

Apple addressed specific issues raised by the Interim Report, such as the company's WebKit restriction on iOS and iPadOS, which bans any rival browser engines on the platform. It claimed that WebKit is innovative and responds to demand for features, such as adding "new functionality to enable greater features and functionality for web apps."

Open Web Advocacy, a group of web developers who are in talks with the CMA and have raised the profile of Apple's WebKit restriction, disagree and say that "Apple's ban of third party browsers on iOS is deeply anti-competitive... All artificial barriers placed by gatekeepers must be removed. Web Apps if allowed can offer equivalent functionality with greater privacy and security for demanding use-cases."

• Should Apple Continue to Ban Rival Browser Engines on iOS?

Apple highlighted the iPhone's high level of customer satisfaction, ease of use, and performance, as well as the company's commitment to innovation and privacy. Apple dismissed the findings of the Interim Report and ruled out the potential for discussion of changes to the company's ecosystem.

...the findings in the IR are, in effect, nothing more than hypotheses about how Apple's ecosystem "may" have the "potential" to harm competition, being as they are untested and based on one-sided evidence. Such hypotheses are insufficient to warrant, never mind support, discussion of potentially radical remedies at this stage...

Apple urged the CMA to "undertake a more fulsome analysis of the benefits that Apple's ecosystem brings to both consumers and developers, and to consider objectively the ramifications of any proposed interventions on consumers and competition in the markets that would be impacted." For more information, see Apple's full response to the CMA.

Article Link: Apple Clashes With UK Regulator in Fierce Response to Warning That Could Require It to 'Redesign the iPhone'

 

[erikkfi]

I am always impressed at how Apple's legal filings and other such documents are in lock-step with their general PR and marketing.

Also let me take this opportunity to remind folks that "side-loading" is just installing.

 

[Danfango]

As a UK consumer, CMA do not represent what I want from my device. If I wanted the compromises removed I would be using an Android device.

The CMA complaint only intends to open the market to abusive companies with poor security, subscription and ethical considerations.

 

[Kissmo1980]

I’m with Apple on this.
I am against them limiting some deeper OS customization though.
However, for me the customization is a 3 day miracle and I always end up to defaults.
?

 

[cloudphrenia]

I will never understand how consumers could support these attacks on iOS. Android phones are available everywhere, and come in all shapes and sizes. Why wouldn’t you just go buy your dream Android phone and enjoy your “open” OS and leave us alone? Why do you have to encourage government goons to ruin iOS for the rest of us?

 

[buddhistMonkey]

Also let me take this opportunity to remind folks that "side-loading" is just installing.

It isn't, though. Sideloading means bypassing the App Store and its inherent security measures, and that has wide-reaching ramifications for both Apple and iPhone owners.

 

[TheYayAreaLiving 🎗️]

There is no way the UK regulator will allow Apple to change the design of the iPhone.

That’s just not going to work. Not going to lie, Apple is making valid points here.

 

[california_kid]

Does UK require all citizens use iPhones? If it's up to each citizen, can't the citizens just say no if they don't like Apple's policies?

 

[Macative]

WebKit is garabge today. That isn't an argument at all.

 

[Kierkegaarden]

There are plenty of webs browsing apps available in the App Store. Is the issue they have primarily about the use of WebKit? Why is this a problem? How is this harmful to competition? Aren’t all browsers free? Why does it matter if the browsers have to be built on WebKit?

 

[ashdelacroix]

As Apple grows, regulation was bound to follow. The US, the EU are all doing the same. A number of countries in Asia, too, including South Korea. It's where the world is going: Apple must face the fact it has a very significant share of these personal devices we use every day for so many aspects of our personal and working lives.

Apple is renowned for its closed and singular mentality (for good and bad).

That said, I do worry that we will end up with the wrong kind of regulation. Few Apple users want the kind of 'choices' that regulators seem to think we want. I don't want to side-load anything. I don't want a google-isation of my iPhone.

 

[Kkspire]

I bet the UK gov is probably old people that get pop up’s they’ve won the lottery and send money to claim their ticket. It’s sick what they are trying to do. People LOVE Apple. If you don’t want it, DO NOT BUY IT. No one’s trying to change McDonald’s menus…

 

[I7guy]

Good that apple is fighting figureheads that want to make the iOS === android ecosystem. (Guess we’ll see whether there are comments to the effect of this legislation can’t come soon enough)

 

[Macative]

It isn't, though. Sideloading means bypassing the App Store and its inherent security measures, and that has wide-reaching ramifications for both Apple and iPhone owners.

The ramifications of which are already known and fully acceptable on the Mac and many other platforms.

 

[iMacDragon]

It isn't, though. Sideloading means bypassing the App Store and its inherent security measures, and that has wide-reaching ramifications for both Apple and iPhone owners.

And one that many including me would be happy with. Slap it behind a big clear warning, sure. But give the option, like you have on mac.

 

[The Phazer]

I will never understand how consumers could support these attacks on iOS. Android phones are available everywhere, and come in all shapes and sizes. Why wouldn’t you just go buy your dream Android phone and enjoy your “open” OS and leave us alone? Why do you have to encourage government goons to ruin iOS for the rest of us?

Because iOS causes incalculable damage to everyone even if you don't use Apple hardware. The impact it has on the wider ecosystems embeds discrimination against groups everywhere. Instagram has said that it discriminates against sex workers across it's entire service because of Apple's app store rules. So has Tumblr. So has Discord. So have countless other sites.

Apple's blocking of software at the behest of the Chinese government has likely gotten activists killed. It stops the business model of innovative services. It harms everyone, and it in no way provides security - that is simply a lie by Apple to enable it's rent seeking and anticompetitive behaviour.

 

[Kierkegaarden]

WebKit is garabge today. That isn't an argument at all.

Explain why you think WebKit is “garabge”. I have had zero issues accessing the web on my iOS devices. It works just as it should. What do you think is missing?

 

[CTHarrryH]

I wonder if Apple has more programmers or lawyers. I suspect the latter.

 

[mcnallym]

As a UK consumer, CMA do not represent what I want from my device. If I wanted the compromises removed I would be using an Android device.

The CMA complaint only intends to open the market to abusive companies with poor security, subscription and ethical considerations.

This is precisely why I have Apple as well. I knew all of the limits when went in.
I have friends that are adamantly android and won’t touch an iPhone because of the Apple ecosystem.

If people don’t like the restrictions of the AppStore then don’t buy Apple products!

Don’t buy Apple products and then moan that I could do this on Android. buy an android phone then. Nothing you can do with am iPhone that cannot do on android. Apart from the obvious iOS apps but there will be equivalent app for android available.

I was fortunate that used to have two cars

Golf GTI for fun and Passat Estate for everyday.

When helped my niece move I used the Passat Estate as wanted the luggage space. I did not take my Golf and then moan that the luggage capacity was too small.

If you are a person that wants multiple app stores then buy a product that has them. It really is not that difficult.

 

[heystu]

Does UK require all citizens use iPhones? If it's up to each citizen, can't the citizens just say no if they don't like Apple's policies?

We prefer to be called 'Brits' than 'citizens' - way tooo 1984. And all upper-class Brits are required to have iPhones with the peasants forced to use Android devices, it's how we keep the riff-raff out and allocate lifeboats don't-cha-know...

 

[Danfango]

The ramifications of which are already known and fully acceptable on the Mac and many other platforms.

The thing is they’re really not known about. The public have no idea.

The amount of compromised devices I see in the professional fintech market that actually put people’s data and wealth at risk is scary. It has got to the point that we banned anything but iOS for company phones and tablets.

 

[d686546s]

It isn't, though. Sideloading means bypassing the App Store and its inherent security measures, and that has wide-reaching ramifications for both Apple and iPhone owners.

So? We've all installed software for decades, not "sideloaded," without the need for an App Store. Apple will happily tell you how secure MacOS is and then turn around and vilify "sideloading."

 

[Danfango]

Explain why you think WebKit is “garabge”. I have had zero issues accessing the web on my iOS devices. It works just as it should. What do you think is missing?

Everyone is parroting the line because apple isn’t implementing bleeding edge carnage like chrome and Firefox.

The browser feature set and the www these days is looking like an Indian train at rush hour held together with poop and sticky tape. It’s an absolute garbage fire and people have been sold the line that because more garbage isn’t being throw at the fire that the particular fire isn’t good enough.

 

[d686546s]

hypothetical concerns raised primarily by self-serving complaints from a handful of multi-billion dollar developers such as Microsoft, Facebook, Match, Spotify, and Epic

Not to put too fine a point on it, but without the big developers the iPhone would be no more rather quickly.

I don't think there's a real immediate chance of dropping the iPhone, but iOS is as attractive as its ecosystem.

 

[planteater]

And one that many including me would be happy with. Slap it behind a big clear warning, sure. But give the option, like you have on mac.

macOS is a full operating system that has with it a full array of options to mitigate security and privacy threats. iOS can never do that due to the limiting architecture. They can’t be compared in that light.