Apple on Thursday urged top U.S. lawmakers to reject an “antitrust” bill proposed by a Senate committee that would mandate third-party app stores.
Mark Gurman for Bloomberg News:
The company said the bill, S. 2710, would harm user security and privacy, create expansive liability exposure and legal uncertainty, and would deny consumer choice. The company made the statements in a letter, obtained by Bloomberg News, that was sent to Senate Judiciary Chair Dick Durbin and ranking Republican Chuck Grassley ahead of their committee’s discussion of the bill.
“We are deeply concerned that the legislation, unless amended, would make it easier for big social media platforms to avoid the pro-consumer practices of Apple’s App Store, and allow them to continue business as usual,” Tim Powderly, the company’s head of government affairs in the Americas, wrote in the letter.
“Sideloading would enable bad actors to evade Apple’s privacy and security protections by distributing apps without critical privacy and security checks,” he said. “These provisions would allow malware, scams and data-exploitation to proliferate.”
MacDailyNews Take: As we wrote last August:
Yes, by all means, let’s turn the Garden of Eden into a glorious combination of the streets of Detroit and Chicago. Makes tons of sense.
“Hey, let’s dramatically increase the potential for malicious code and behavior on Apple’s iPhone, iPad, iPod touch, and Apple TV!”
“What a great idea!” exclaim [these] idiot U.S. Senators.
We await the U.S. Senate bills that force Microsoft’s Xbox and Sony’s PlayStation to allow third-party app stores with bated breath.
Spotify, Epic Games, etc.’s demand they should be able to advertise alternative deals within their iOS app is a practice that no store in the world allows.
The fact is that when Sony sells TVs in Best Buy, they’re not allowed to place placards next to each unit that say the same unit is cheaper at Target, along with QR codes that launch Amazon’s app offering the exact same TV at a lower price.
Once again, Spotify et al. want all the benefits of the App Store for free.
Of course, we’re all for Apple allowing app developers to inform users that the App Store isn’t their only shopping option, as long as Spotify, Epic Games or any other developer simply pay Apple a 15% – 30% advertising fee for each sale they make as a result of being offered the alternative payment option via Apple’s App Store. 😉
Apple deserves compensation from any developer using their store for distribution, advertising, etc.
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Shop The Apple Store at Amazon.
[Thanks to MacDailyNews Reader “Brawndo Drinker” for the heads up.]
Another take from the Washington paper of record:
https://www.washingtonpost.com/technology/2022/02/03/apple-competition-senate-app-store/
I would agree with the legislation if and only if it did AT LEAST three things (and maybe more if I spend time thinking about it):
1) It would apply to ALL companies that sell hardware and have the ability to upload software or firmware to those devices, e.g., if you have a Samsung TV that allows updates you must be allowed to load updates from any source you like without impacting your warrantee or if you have an LG fridge that can take updates you must be allowed to load updates from any source you like without impacting your warrantee — and thousands upon thousands of other cases.
2) There is an extensive and broad provision in the bill that gives hardware providers extensive protections against lawsuits. There must be absolutely NONE of lawsuits allowed that claim, “I loaded software from XYZ store and it bricked my Apple product. It’s Apple’s fault it got bricked.” and none of “I loaded software from ABC store and my child was tracked and harassed. It’s Apple’s fault for not protecting my child.” or any host of thousands of similar situations.
3) There is a provision that allows the hardware providers to easily go after bad actors that negatively affect the platforms they sell. If someone is distributing malware for their platform they must be very easily able to go after them both civilly and criminally.
Regarding (1), are you implying OS updates or 3rd party app updates? If the former I doubt this legislation forces anyone including Apple to allow OS updates from any other source. If the latter, it just means it’ll pull Apple (and maybe game console makers) kicking and screaming into the desktop/Android OSes’ application market model.
(2) Have you heard of any lawsuits against any Android OEM/PC maker/Apple Mac for the hypothetical lawsuits you propose?
(3) Everyone would benefit from this, but how do you imagine it would be implemented or enforced?
This isn’t about firmware, its about software, but even so… fine.
If full liability would be had, it would be NOW. Apple currently IS the IT Dept. for iOS. Why immunity, if found non-culpable, as in they didn’t sell the App, all the should be held accountable for is a factory reset.
They don’t own the devices, they don’t own the 3rd party apps. What platform?
This is criminally stupid with regard to unintended consequences of alternate stores and products.
Hey, nice lemonade stand you have there kid. However, we think equity demands you sell your competitors lemonade at your own store.
He Pizza store, you need to sell others Pizza, and while your at it, some burgers and fries, because we know better about what your store should offer.
It’s moronic, so not surprised to see this fascist commie administration push it.
Not even wrong!
Nice container you have there. It’s owner should be able to fill it from anywhere.