Tim Cook criticizes the Digital Markets Act, claiming it will weaken the security of iPhones

Tim Cook, Apple’s CEO, spoke on June 16 at Viva Technology 2021. He was notably asked about the Digital Markets Act (DMA), reports Reuters.

“A security risk”

Presented in December 2020 by the European Commission, this draft regulation aims in particular to strengthen the obligations of gatekeepers, of which Apple is a part, to restore a balance within the internal market. Large tech companies will be subject to a number of rules, some of which could be dangerous for the security of iPhones, according to Tim Cook.

“In its current wording, the DMA would like to force the sideloading of applications on the iPhone (…) It would destroy the security of the iPhone and many of the privacy initiatives that we have built into the App Store, where we have privacy labels and the transparency of app tracking … These things would no longer exist.“, did he declare.

Sideloading is the process of installing apps from sources outside of an authorized app store. They can contain hidden malware designed to compromise the terminal of use because they are not verified as can be the applications offered on the App Store, explains the boss of Apple.

“Android has 47 times more malware than iOS“, he added. “This is because we have designed iOS in such a way that there is only one app store and all apps are reviewed before going to the store. This keeps a lot of this malware out of our ecosystem (..) “.

Challenge Apple’s takeover of the App Store

The DMA wants to blow Apple’s stranglehold on the App Store because this causes a concentration of powers, at odds with European competition policy. Indeed, the American giant has a right of veto which has long been criticized in particular by developers, some of whom gathered within an organization a few months ago called the “Coalition for App Fairness”.

At the center of criticism is the famous 30% tax levied by Apple on the income of any purchase made from an application on its store, even if it is a recurring subscription. These “in-app purchases” must go through its proprietary payment system. The company then charges app developers a 30% commission on all subscription fees when purchased directly from an app.

alerted by spotify, The European Commission is investigating

Apple’s policy is at the heart of an antitrust dispute led by the European Commission following a complaint filed by Spotify. She announced last April that she had sent “a statement of objections” to Apple. She believes that through the App Store, the American company is in a situation of abuse of a dominant position in the music streaming market.

“Apple is depriving users of choice [plus avantageux] and distorts competition. It does this by charging high commissions on every transaction made in the App Store for its competitors and preventing them from informing their customers of the existence of other subscription possibilities.“said Margrethe Vestager, Executive Vice President for Competition Policy.

–