EU antitrust chief ready to get on Apple's case about fees and safety warnings
The Digital Markets Act forced companies like Apple to open up opportunities for more competition, but the legislation has resulted in new problems with monetization and security concerns.
Apple's compliance with the DMA may not satisfy regulators
Apple's problems with the Digital Markets Act have only just begun as regulators scrutinize every inch of the company's compliance efforts. It seems there may be some concern that Apple is trying to drive developers away from the new contract options.
An interview conducted by Reuters with the EU's antitrust chief Margrethe Vestager revealed that key portions of company's compliance with the DMA will be under investigation. Apple specifically may be causing problems with its fees and security warnings.
"There are things that we take a keen interest in, for instance, if the new Apple fee structure will de facto not make it in any way attractive to use the benefits of the DMA," Vestager said in the interview. "That kind of thing is what we will be investigating."
The fee structure in question is Apple's Core Technology Fee, which requires developers with over 1 million app downloads to pay half a euro for each new download annually. The structure has caused worry amongst developers that build free apps, which could be financially ruined by such a fee.
Vestager also isn't happy with how Apple might be discouraging users from engaging with external app marketplaces. Warnings tell users about security risks associated with using apps outside the App Store.
"I would think of it as unwise to say that the services are not safe to use, because that has nothing to do with the DMA," Vestager said about the warnings. "The DMA is there to open the market for other service providers to get to you and how your service provider of your operating system, how they will make sure that it is safe is for them to decide."
Developer feedback is also helping the EU antitrust chief decide what to investigate. There has apparently been plenty of feedback beyond the high-profile complaints from companies like Spotify and Epic.
Read on AppleInsider
Comments
Security is always the last item on the list of priorities for the EU.
Apple offers a number of consumer protection benefits for users of third-party apps downloaded through the App Store, and in-app subscriptions and purchases handled through the App Store. Apps are reviewed for compatibility and compliance with consumer data collection standards, including required transparency and permissions for collection and use of certain user data. In-app subscriptions can be stopped as easily as they are started. The list goes on.
For third-party app stores, these things - by definition - will not be handled by Apple, and Apple can't guarantee that similar standards will be maintained by operators of third-party app stores. They not only should be allowed to communicate this, an actual consumer protection law should probably require that this be communicated.
As much as the EU seems to be actively pretending it's not the case, the primary reason that some app developers want to have access to the iOS platform outside the App Store, is specifically because they want to defy Apple's standards for security, privacy and consumer protections. They want to collect and sell user data and they want to implement in-app sales and subscription practices that don't meet Apple's standards.
And fit it fair and square, coming from behind and beating them in a fair race by simply training harder and running its heart out.
um…
so those who have been caught repeatedly hacking and bypassing security/privacy rules in order to spy on and manipulate users, in many cases opening them up to malicious code and actors as a BUSINESS MODEL are the ones the eu is relying on to provide security - when apple is offering a rock-solid system - are going to do a good job?
sincerely, Margarethe
Apple has in many cases not fixed security wholes they were informed about for months and years. So… why are they suddenly the gold standard?
Let's see the numbers. No of malware, spams, etc.
Second, what the EU wants is to provide the option for everyone and his dog to upload an app to anyone's phone.
How the heck does this not raise security concerns?
Apple used whatever spin it could to try and protect its favourable situation. That is understandable but was never going to win flavour within the EU because it wasn't dealing with the problem the EU was tackling.
The infamous 'core technology fee' was questionable from the get go. The chances of it passing the sniff test were slim but Apple tried anyway. Very probably rubbing people up the wrong way in the process.
However, we have to wait and see how the EU responds officially.
You say the EU wants to provide options and that's correct.
An option is not an obligation on users in this case. If you have reservations about third party app stores or direct downloads, alternative browsers, different Wallets etc don't use them.
I'm sure Apple won't allow you to install something 'accidentally'.
FWIW, I would actually ask around and ask people what their experience in this area is like on Android because if it were only half as bad as people here say, those users would be clamoring to get over Apple’s garden wall.
That isn't happening, is it?
The reality is that there are possibly users wanting to get out but are effectively locked in. After all, those two words have been emailed around at Apple.
My last iPhone was an iPhone 4.
Android flavours ever since and using multiple app stores and direct downloads.
Not a single problem.
If they truly wanted to provide options, wouldn’t they make Apple’s App Store a must for every developer? Otherwise, it would adversely affect the users not interested in third-party app stores. Say Adobe decided to only distribute their stuff through their own store. In effect, that would force their customers to use it, switching away from Adobe being the only alternative.
You don’t even get to choose the iOS update’s flavor, as it will contain the ability to use third-party app stores whether you want it or not. The freedom’s so overwhelming you cannot opt out of it.
It's obvious that security wasn't the directive, nor was the consumer benefit, though I expect that a small percentage will be enthused; it is driven by creating more lucrative opportunities for developers, a profit shift from Apple, and other Big Tech's, to developers.
So, why wouldn't there be the option of a single toggle, that allowed the user to "keep my iPhone as it is?".
Seems a little late for that, don't you think, and you might not find that it supports your POV. Meanwhile, iPhone continues to increase its user base, now about 1.46 billion.
That's really just complete bullshit, isn't it. There are countless opportunities for smartphone users to "switch sides", and I doubt that will be as difficult or intrusive, as the DMA.
That's hyperbole, at the least, and a complete lie at the most.
https://unisonbank.com/why-you-shouldnt-download-from-third-party-app-stores/
Why do you lie?