EU Competition Chief Tells Apple Not to Use Privacy as a Shield Against Competition

[MacRumors]

In ongoing antitrust discussions about App Store competition, Apple has maintained that allowing users to install apps outside of the App Store would have dire privacy consequences, but European Union digital competition chief Margrethe Vestager said today that Apple must not use privacy excuses to limit competition.

In an interview with Reuters, Vestager said that privacy and security are of "paramount importance," but she does not believe that customers would be sacrificing security when sideloading an app.

The important thing here is, of course, that it's not a shield against competition, because I think customers will not give up neither security nor privacy if they use another app store or if they sideload.

Vestager has been working on the Digital Markets Act in Europe, which would require Apple to let iPhone and iPad users download apps from third-party App Stores or from the internet. Apple CEO Tim Cook said in June that the proposed rules around sideloading apps would destroy the security of the iPhone and the privacy initiatives that have been built into the App Store.

On the topic of the DMA, Vestager said that she is open to changes, and that she believes it is possible to "find solutions," but it is likely that Apple will continue to fight heavily against alternate app stores or sideloading apps.

Vestager also said that she supports Apple's recent App Tracking Transparency privacy changes and has no issue with the functionality because it's an option available to everyone.

As I have said, I think actually several times, that it is a good thing when providers give us the service that we can easily set our preferences if we want to be tracked outside the use of an app or not as long as it's the same condition for everyone. So far, we have no reason to believe that this is not the case for Apple.

Should the Digital Markets Act go on to become law, Apple will have to make major changes to its iPhone and iPad platform to accommodate the requirement to allow for non-App Store apps. Apple is also facing similar legislation in the United States, with U.S. House lawmakers in June introducing antitrust bills that would result in major changes to the tech industry if passed.

Article Link: EU Competition Chief Tells Apple Not to Use Privacy as a Shield Against Competition

 

[TheYayAreaLiving 🎗️]

Apple is trying to protect it's consumers data... Not sure what is wrong with that.

Look what happened to ruthless Facebook.

PRIVACY will always be Apple's number one PRIORITY, No matter what happens. It is one of the main core values.

Find another excuse Chief! Perhaps, review this webpage/report that might help you not to go after our human rights, over this long 4th of July weekend

https://www.apple.com/legal/transparency/pdf/requests-2020-H1-en.pdf

Privacy

Apple products, including Apple Intelligence, are designed to protect your privacy, because privacy is a fundamental human right.

www.apple.com

10 Years ago... Steve jobs thoughts on privacy. iPhone 4 days...

 

[madmin]

Old habits are hard to jail break

 

[DNichter]

"I think customers will not give up neither security nor privacy if they use another app store or if they sideload."

This is pretty laughable. Of course there is more risk to both security and privacy if you are side loading apps. That doesn't mean something bad will happen, but there is more risk - clearly.

 

[bydandie]

Apple is trying to protect it's consumers data

Absolutely, the reality is though that Apple have locked vendors (e.g. Tile) out of the Ecosystem unless they pay the Apple tax which also also weakens security.

 

[TheYayAreaLiving 🎗️]

Absolutely, the reality is though that Apple have locked vendors (e.g. Tile) out of the Ecosystem unless they pay the Apple tax which also also weakens security.

They can raise the taxes margin. That's all they can go after. Money Talks.

I'm sure if Apple offers $$$ to this chief.. he won't be talking this nonsense.

These Government officials needs to stay out. They do not know what they are talking about.

 

[DelayedGratificationGene]

This is just absolute nonsense. No govt official anywhere is making any sense at all. They are all over the place with their accusations, beliefs and reasoning. Everyone is starting to realize that the political officials behind this anti trust push are essentially clueless.

 

[WiseAJ]

Governments just need to go F*** Off when it comes to this stuff.

 

[djcerla]

These morons are trying to undo Apple’s layers of protections one by one, to great detriment for the consumer.

Also, they’re actively trying to limit consumer’s choice, by forcing everyone into the insecure Android paradigm.

 

[VespiYT]

Wtf, these guys high or something? There is alot of reasons I chose Apple over Android and one of them is privacy

 

[genovelle]

"I think customers will not give up neither security nor privacy if they use another app store or if they sideload."

This is pretty laughable. Of course there is more risk to both security and privacy if you are side loading apps. That doesn't mean something bad will happen, but there is more risk - clearly.

Of course something bad will happen

 

[grandM]

These EU officials know nothing about tech, were raised in an android world and went into politics because they were unable to found a company.

 

[aylk]

They have a point. Currently you can install on your device hundreds of catfish applications, phishing applications, and data mining applications through Apple's own App Store. If they Apple wants to make this claim they better get their **** together.

 

[macfacts]

Governments just need to go F*** Off when it comes to this stuff.

Or you can continue to use Apple's iOS app store exclusively. No one is forcing you to sideload apps

 

[jz0309]

politicians are supposed to represent OUR interests, but this is ask example where they go way out of their league ... all I can say, next time you vote, remember ...

 

[nexesnex]

The problem is that this the EU digital competition chief. Of course this is what they would say (someone needs to hack in and start sharing all her private information, then we'll see how she feels about privacy)... It would be nice for the EU privacy and security chief to chime in... Although, I don't know if the EU has one.

 

[atoqir]

I really don’t understand all the counter arguments.

Nobody will be forced to use alternative app stores so your data will not be compromised if you don’t use this option.

That what this all this is about. Giving users a choice. Just like you can basically buy every product out there in other stores at different priced and sales. Sometimes it seems people over here all have a large quantity of Apple stock. Cause all this is about profit. Nothing else.

 

[Shirasaki]

Waiting for pages of comments telling EU officials they don’t know what they are doing.
While some fear Apple growing way too big, they get to decide anyone’s fate with the snap of finger and suffer no consequences from that.
I know, there are millions of Americans loving private company controlling their lives.

Oh wait, there it is: phantom of choice.

 

[fwmireault]

According to EU, you can download anything in your phone with 0 regulatory control regarding this app practice, data collecting and security… but hey, at least malwares will have a right to competition in Europe. I am all for more coherent, fair and transparent App Store policy from Apple, but this declaration from UE regarding security is ridiculous.

 

[CWallace]

Or you can continue to use Apple's iOS app store exclusively. No one is forcing you to sideload apps

My fear is a major "digital goods" provider (like Netflix, Amazon, Microsoft) might just force us to do so by dropping their official Apple App Store app in favor of a side-loaded one that gives them more control over payments and customer information mining.

This is why I wish Apple would relax their third-party payments stance. This alone would take a fair bit of heat off of Apple at the consumer and regulator level and I believe would improve Apple's ability to push-back on side-loading and third-party app stores.

 

[grandM]

At 21 she got a top position in politics. She must be connected from birth. It gets worse after the quote.
'
She studied at the University of Copenhagen, graduating in 1993 with a degree in Economics.[15] Vestager speaks Danish, English and some French.[12]

Political career[edit]​

Vestager has been a professional politician since the age of 21, when she was appointed to the central board and executive committee of the SLP and its European Affairs Committee, and shortly afterwards as National Chairwoman of the Party.'

Margrethe Vestager - Wikipedia

en.wikipedia.org

 

[WiseAJ]

Or you can continue to use Apple's iOS app store exclusively. No one is forcing you to sideload apps

There will be apps that will force you to sideload if the option is available. Don't be ignorant in thinking that there aren't a handful of popular apps that will jump at the chance to be outside of Apple's control if given the option. If sideloading is made to be an allowable option it will be impossible to stick exclusively to the App Store unless you are someone who barely uses your phone for anything.

I'd rather Android lovers not ruin my choice to run a phone OS that protects my privacy and security by not allowing sideloading.

Sideloading on iOS is the death of true freedom of choice.

No one is forced to use or develop for iOS. They do so knowing full well of Apple's requirements and restrictions. If they don't like it then they can go to Android or not develop for iOS.

 

[genovelle]

"I think customers will not give up neither security nor privacy if they use another app store or if they sideload."

This is pretty laughable. Of course there is more risk to both security and privacy if you are side loading apps. That doesn't mean something bad will happen, but there is more risk - clearly.

Of course something bad will happen. We have infrastructure being targeted by hackers and Apple playing a cat and mouse game to stay ahead of bad actors attempting to gain access to the walled garden. Outside stores means that anyone can make a store, including bad actors and suck people in with fake popular apps like they do on Android and now they not only have access to your device, but you have given them your credit card or bank information.

IOS users are higher value because they are more likely to have money to steal.

 

[WiseAJ]

I really don’t understand all the counter arguments.

Nobody will be forced to use alternative app stores so your data will not be compromised if you don’t use this option.

That what this all this is about. Giving users a choice. Just like you can basically buy every product out there in other stores at different priced and sales. Sometimes it seems people over here all have a large quantity of Apple stock. Cause all this is about profit. Nothing else.

Users already have a choice. iOS (closed) or Android (open)

This move would essentially eliminate choice by removing the only closed system on the market and forcing everyone to be open and vulnerable.

 

[Mousse]

Someone sees pass Apple's veiled excuses for what it really is: an attempt to stiffle competition to it's Appstore. Most people won't bother with sideloading or alternative appstores, but let those who dare jump in with eyes wide open.

Standard practice for software problems is to do a factory reset, ie wipe all your data. Anyone who wants to sideload shouldn't come weeping to Apple to fix user error.