Apple Defends Ecosystem in Australia as Antitrust Firefighting Around the World Continues

[MacRumors]

Apple has robustly defended its ecosystem in a submission to Australia's competition watchdog, amid growing global scrutiny of the power of big tech companies and "gatekeeping."

The Australian Competition and Consumer Commission (ACCC) has scrutinized Apple's ecosystem in a series of investigations since last year and encouraged the company to give users more control over preinstalled apps and services. In a detailed response to the ACCC's Digital Platform Services Inquiry Discussion Paper, Apple argued that proposed changes to its ecosystem "would reduce incentives for dynamic firms like Apple to innovate and develop new and differentiated products" and expose users to a "far less secure and private environment."

Apple is puzzled that the competition and consumer protection agency would prioritise purported competition concerns which lack cogent evidence of harm, over clear and present severe damage to users that they experience every day. That is not what consumers want to see as outcomes of legislative reform - they want stronger, not weaker, protection - from the unlawful conduct which affects the hundreds of thousands of Australians every year whose information is stolen, scammed, traded and exploited to their detriment.

Apple highlighted confidential data that it submitted to the ACCC that shows there is "a meaningful, consistent, and upward-trending willingness of users to switch between devices and platforms, and an ongoing capacity for them to do so." The company also argued that it competes with "other software distribution platforms to attract developers to the App Store," citing web apps as an example of "an alternative means for developers to distribute apps to iOS users."

Australia is among the many countries now heavily scrutinizing Apple's ecosystem and threatening pervasive legislation in an attempt to force changes, including the United States, the United Kingdom, Japan, South Korea, the European Union, and more, with a clear appetite from global regulators to explore requirements around app store policies, app sideloading, and interoperability.

See Apple's full response to the ACCC for more information.

Article Link: Apple Defends Ecosystem in Australia as Antitrust Firefighting Around the World Continues

 

[Macative]

Had Apple not locked down iOS in the beginning, and ran it much more like macOS from the start...does anyone truly believe: 1) they would have made any less money (measurably)? 2) the iPhone would not be secure?

Both ideas are very doubtful.

 

[ruka.snow]

Had Apple not locked down iOS in the beginning, and ran it much more like macOS from the start...does anyone truly believe: 1) they would have made any less money (measurably)? 2) the iPhone would not be secure?

Both ideas are very doubtful.

It was more locked down at the start and opened up to external apps later with a store that mimicked Steam(who seem to never get any fuss about their 30% cut and dominate market position) as much as possible.

 

[munpip214]

Availability of web apps is a pretty weak argument, but then again these regulators aren’t the brightest. Probably have to call their kids for help using their phone. “I can’t figure out how to download android to my iPhone. Guess I better write a bill”

 

[DBZmusicboy01]

This decade has been Anti everything good

 

[BootsWalking]

Uh oh, yet another continent the faithful will say Apple should pull out of. There's always Antarctica.

 

[RalfTheDog]

As to allowing external app stores, allow the user to choose to have a locked down phone or one that only uses the official Apple App store. Allow developers to choose. Can my app run on a phone that has been compromised by an un trusted store? "I am sorry, the developer of the application you are wanting to purchase has chosen not to allow their apps to run on phones connected to non Apple app stores."

As to open NFC, make it an option. You can either use Apple Wallet or you can open your phone up to potentially compromised apps and let them see all your credit card transactions.

 

[dguisinger]

I'm going to keep saying it, they should have found a middle ground early on. Its going to be death by a 1000 paper cuts with conflicting rules from every authority on the planet if they don't cave on some things and strike a balance...and its probably too late.

 

[RalfTheDog]

I'm going to keep saying it, they should have found a middle ground early on. Its going to be death by a 1000 paper cuts with conflicting rules from every authority on the planet if they don't cave on some things and strike a balance...and its probably too late.

The only viable option would be to give users the option to choose a secure configuration or one that is open to other app stores. That option would need to give the developers of secured apps the option of not allowing their software to run on unsecured phones.

 

[I7guy]

While apple has to follows laws, iOS will wind up like android, unfortunately.

 

[icanhazmac]

Going to be sad if this unique ecosystem is legislated into extinction. Some of us voted with our dollars into this one stop shop walled garden, like it and want it to remain as-is. Those that want more freedom with their devices, apps, stores and payments have other options, we do not.

 

[Realityck]

Had Apple not locked down iOS in the beginning, and ran it much more like macOS from the start...does anyone truly believe: 1) they would have made any less money (measurably)? 2) the iPhone would not be secure?

Both ideas are very doubtful.

I have to wonder if iOS 16 will consist of many changes where Apple has been pushed to make it more like MacOS rather then iOS as it currently is? In other words the store is not the only way to purchase apps, as well as install them as you can in MacOS. Yes one doubts this will happen.

 

[Doomtomb]

Preinstalled apps aren't the problem

 

[justperry]

Make it (Walled or not) a choice, easy.

 

[jakey rolling]

It was more locked down at the start and opened up to external apps later with a store that mimicked Steam(who seem to never get any fuss about their 30% cut and dominate market position) as much as possible.

Remind me again - which thousand dollar device did you purchase that locks you into using Steam's app store?

 

[timber]

While apple has to follows laws, iOS will wind up like android, unfortunately.

Android is a lot more boring than you give it credit for. It isn't no Windows or Mac OS.

 

[jakey rolling]

Going to be sad if this unique ecosystem is legislated into extinction. Some of us voted with our dollars into this one stop shop walled garden, like it and want it to remain as-is. Those that want more freedom with their devices, apps, stores and payments have other options, we do not.

And the people in Australia voted with actual votes to support a government that will protect their freedom of software choice on devices that they purchased.

 

[icanhazmac]

Make it (Walled or not) a choice, easy.

No it isn't.

If devs choose to leave the Apple App Store to either go it alone or be exclusively in another store we as consumers lose:

1. The convenience of a one stop shop for app purchases and updates
2. The security/privacy of Apple's payment system versus others
3. The very clear privacy declarations that the Apple store requires.

 

[mansplains]

Uh oh, yet another continent the faithful will say Apple should pull out of. There's always Antarctica.

I'm thinking of a nice pan, fade in, camera shot on the spaceship headquarters in the desolate snow desert.

 

[jakey rolling]

No it isn't.

If devs choose to leave the Apple App Store to either go it alone or be exclusively in another store we as consumers lose:

1. The convenience of a one stop shop for app purchases and updates
2. The security/privacy of Apple's payment system versus others
3. The very clear privacy declarations that the Apple store requires.

Here's the thing - none of those things will go away. Apple will still have a store, and you can still rest cozy in your little well-protected walled garden with your iNanny watching over you, if you want. All you need to do is not buy apps from other stores. While that might be a tad inconvenient because you really really want that killer app - that still becomes your choice, instead of Apple's. And it's still a far less invasive suggestion than you walled-garden fans telling us to ditch our iPhones and switch to Android every time this subject comes up.

 

[I7guy]

Here's the thing - none of those things will go away. Apple will still have a store, and you can still rest cozy in your little well-protected walled garden with your iNanny watching over you, if you want. All you need to do is not buy apps from other stores. While that might be a tad inconvenient because you really really want that killer app - that still becomes your choice, instead of Apple's. And it's still a far less invasive suggestion than you walled-garden fans telling us to ditch our iPhones and switch to Android every time this subject comes up.

Since this isn’t be said, I’ll have to say it. Maybe apple should put Australia in its rear view mirror. Then Australia customers won’t have to worry. Android will fulfill their tech needs needs.

 

[dk001]

Preinstalled apps aren't the problem

They are part of it.
Sadly Apple has some of the crappiest apps and you cannot default others for most of them.

 

[I7guy]

They are part of it.
Sadly Apple has some of the crappiest apps and you cannot default others for most of them.

What crappy apps?

 

[jakey rolling]

Maybe apple should put Australia in its rear view mirror.

There it is.

 

[AtomicDusk]

When I first read the headline I thought Apple was donating to wildfire suppression given the massive wildfires they had in Australia before.

I was very confused about how that would be subject to antitrust.

That's where I'm at today.