Jakarta, CNBC Indonesia – Facebook CEO Mark Zuckerberg used his opening speech for Q4 2020 financial performance to denounce Apple for changing its privacy policy. He said Facebook is increasingly seeing Apple as one of its biggest competitors.
In its new privacy policy, iPhone and iPad users will be asked in advance if they are willing to share their information for ad tracking purposes. The online advertising industry is expected to take a hit as it is estimated that many users choose not to share that information.
Facebook, which derives almost all of its revenue from online advertising, has attacked Apple’s privacy policy. They advertise heavily in top newspapers, publish websites and run blog posts outlining their arguments.
Facebook claims Apple’s policy changes will “threaten the personalized advertising that millions of small businesses rely on to find and reach their customers.”
In his speech, Mark Zuckerberg accused Apple of using its position to help its own services, particularly the iMessage service, which competes with Facebook Messenger and WhatsApp services.
“iMessage is the key to their ecosystem,” said Mark Zuckerberg, as quoted by CNBC International, Wednesday (28/1/2021). “iMessage comes pre-installed on every iPhone and they prefer APIs and private permissions, that’s why iMessage is the most used messaging service in the US.”
He said Apple’s business now relies more and more on getting part of applications and services.
“Apple has every incentive to use their dominant platform position to interfere with the way our apps and other apps work, which they regularly choose to own,” he said. “This is impacting the growth of millions of businesses around the world, including with the upcoming iOS 14 changes.”
Zuckerberg also reiterated Facebook’s argument that Apple’s privacy changes would make it harder for small businesses to reach their customers with targeted advertising.
“Apple might say they are doing this to help people, but the steps clearly track the interests of their competitors,” he said. “We and others will fight this in the future.”
(roy/roy)
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