Facebook and Spotify CEOs Slam Apple's App Store

[MacRumors]

Facebook CEO Mark Zuckerberg and Spotify CEO Daniel Ek today spoke out against Apple's App Store policies, joining Twitter CEO Elon Musk, who earlier this week said that Apple was making moderation demands and had threatened to withhold Twitter from the App Store.

At The New York Times DealBook Summit, Zuckerberg said that only Apple attempts to limit the apps that are in the App Store, and that the App Store policies are not sustainable. As noted by CNBC, Zuckerberg claimed that Apple has "singled themselves out as the only company that is trying to control unilaterally what apps get on a device," which is not a "good place to be."

Zuckerberg went on to praise Google for allowing for alternate content on Android phones. "They’ve always made it so you can sideload and have other app stores and work directly with phone manufacturers," said Zuckerberg. Zuckerberg has clashed with Apple several times over App Store rules, specifically around various purchases that can be made in the Facebook app. Apple wants a 30 percent cut of things like in-app boosts, which Facebook does not want to pay.

Spotify CEO Daniel Ek, meanwhile, made comments on Twitter claiming that Apple gives developers "the illusion of control," and that the App Store is a "threat to the future of the internet" that denies consumers choice.

https://twitter.com/x/status/1597936810541584391

Ek has clashed with Apple recently over Spotify's new audiobooks feature. Apple rejected Spotify's audiobook update several times and ultimately did not allow Spotify to direct users to purchase audiobooks through an in-app email signup button.

Ek and Zuckerberg are longtime Apple critics and have been encouraging lawmakers to force Apple to support alternative app stores on iOS devices to reduce fees. Multiple bipartisan bills have been introduced in the U.S., and if these are ultimately passed, Apple would need to make significant App Store changes.

Article Link: Facebook and Spotify CEOs Slam Apple's App Store

 

[tdar]

Whatever. Jealous people who can’t do it themselves. It’s not a crime that people have to pay for what Apple provides. These people are greedy and selfish. And none of us should give a damn what they think.

 

[KaliYoni]

My rule of thumb is that if Mark Z. says something is bad, it's probably actually good. And thank god MR actually restrained itself from putting up yet another Sweaty Mark Photo to illustrate this article!

 

[SteveJawbs]

Popcorn time. Apple will most likely lose on this one.

 

[djcerla]

What "the Internet" has to do with the App Store? I buy tons of things on "the Internet" without giving Tim a single dime.

 

[vicviper789]

I’m all up for side loading but I know the truth is that Facebook will immediately require users to side load their app which has every shady data mining feature turned on if you want to use their service

 

[squirrellydw]

I don't use Facebook, spotify or twitter but I think 30% is too high, make it 10% and you will still make money and might not need to change the rules. If not, congress will make it happen at some point.

 

[Kulfon]

1. Create your own Platform
2. For Spotify CEO - just focus on your own promise to bring lossless in 2021 and let Apple to their own thing
3. Facebook just should sit tight being a company that sells consumer data illegally

 

[cocky jeremy]

You hate Apple's stance so badly, leave their platform. Show them who's boss.

 

[DFZD]

Facebook should focus its energies on recovering loses it made on Metaworse

 

[Kulfon]

I don't use Facebook, spotify or twitter but I think 30% is too high, make it 10% and you will still make money and might not need to change the rules. If not, congress will make it happen at some point.

They created the place. Do you not believe they can do whatever they want? Would you not do the same?

 

[TheYayAreaLiving 🎗️]

Nowadays everyone wants to slam Apple App Store. It’s dumb!

How about coming up with your own platform?

 

[Dylan33x]

They created the place. Do you not believe they can do whatever they want? Would you not do the same?

Obviously they can, but should they? 30% doesn’t sound insane until you add in taxes. I generally agree with the point you’re making, even specifically with the App Store. But when there are only 2 Mobile App stores essentially, and have only been that many for let’s say a decade - something has to give.

 

[SW3029]

I can't wait until Facebook collapses like Friendster.

 

[progx]

Ah, Ek… the man who believes musicians, bands and artists work directly for him and Spotify.

As for the Zuck… well, what rhymes well with it…? He pretty much…

 

[1885507]

So, I could be wrong but couldn't all three (3) of these clowns create their own handset, build their own App Store, and...well...compete? --Thought so.

 

[zephiK]

All this criticism about Apple App Store, but none on Google Play Store which also takes 30% cut.

 

[archcat]

People here are ****ing out of their mind… imagine being against the option to choose where you get your apps from… imagine using a PC and only being allowed to install apps from Windows Store…

 

[Dylan33x]

I know where I’m posting this, some these claims have genuine legs. The problem is they don’t go very far because of who is saying them, and why they’re saying them.

Remove that context from the situation and the claims stand. And honestly, I don’t see it being this way much longer. As lame as the stunt Epic pulled was, I see that momentum steamrolling to where eventually we get sideloading. And that’s a net positive for all users.

 

[TheYayAreaLiving 🎗️]

I can't wait until Facebook collapses like Friendster.

They will. Facebook has nothing going on. They are finished. It’s too bad they didn’t take privacy too seriously.

 

[TheDailyApple]

Free market economics. If I create a new platform/product, others have no right to tell me how to design or run it. Even if it gets so popular that it blankets half the market, this doesn't change. People can choose to buy or not to buy my product, and if it gets really popular, it indicates that consumers like the way it works.

Apple wants their ecosystem to work a certain way, and even if it stinks, they have the right to do so. But consumers' choices speak for themselves.

It'd be one thing if there was no other mobile phone company out there and Apple held a monopoly, but that is not the case. As things are, if you want to target consumers on Apple's platform, then it's reasonable that you follow their rules. If their rules were bad enough, no one would make stuff for iPhone and the platform would die.

 

[citysnaps]

Somebody give those whiney toddlers a bottle and soft blankey. Stat!

 

[Macintosh Quadra 840av]

These companies LOVE capitalism, unless it means someone other than themselves profiting from it.

Facebook and Spotify are welcome to make their own phone if they don't like the terms of the iOS platform.

Facebook also charges you to be on their platform. Spotify does too. But it's horrid if someone charges them for doing the same.

 

[Realityck]

Facebook CEO Mark Zuckerberg and Spotify CEO Daniel Ek today spoke out against Apple's App Store policies, joining Twitter CEO Elon Musk, who earlier this week said that Apple was making moderation demands and had threatened to withhold Twitter from the App Store.

They make a lovely couple don't they, forever complaining instead of innovating.

 

[tomnavratil]

As somebody who worked on multiple apps in the App Store, the 30% cut seems completely fair to me. We have several apps with in-app purchases, some subscriptions, all available globally and we don't have worry about the app's placement and promotion, taxes, legal stuff etc. If we were to build the infrastructure alone, we would be around the same cost margin to be completely honest. Yes, it might be a bit cheaper but the difference would be marginal.