Apple CEO Tim Cook has some concerns about privacy. In a speech at Tuesday’s IAPP Global Privacy Summit, Cook spoke about the importance of privacy, but also delivered a warning about ongoing legislation that could regulate the App Store.
Cook kept his speech vague. He never called any specific legislation or lawsuit; in fact, he only went into detail when he was promoting Apple’s privacy efforts.
But if you have been aware of what the United States and the European Union have done at Big Tech, you will understand his position.
Side-loading fear
Cook argued during the speech that efforts to regulate and enforce healthy competition on the Apple App Store will have negative effects on privacy and security.
“… politicians are taking steps in the name of competition that will force Apple to load apps on the iPhone that bypass the App Store through a process called sideloading,” Cook said.
Apple has a pretty tight grip on what is allowed in its App Store and has even handled lawsuits and thrown certain apps out to break their App Store rules.
The European Union recently passed The Digital Markets Act, which would force Big Tech to open up their messaging services to work on smaller platforms, citing iMessage as an example. The EU is also pushing for third-party app stores, which essentially bypass the App Store and sideloader apps for the iPhone and iPad.
Cook said side load will have profound consequences.
He argued that “data-hungry companies” by sideloading will be able to circumvent hardware security and rules to track people without their consent. It would create vulnerabilities that were not there before, when Apple had complete control over its online store.
Cook went back a bit by saying that the technology giant believes in competition and wants to promote this environment but does not want to undermine users’ privacy.
Apple’s ongoing security efforts
Cook also pointed out the efforts Apple has made to ensure users’ privacy. He specifically mentioned that the iPhone automatically encrypts personal data and data stored on iCloud, which is also end-to-end encrypted. Not even Apple knows what’s in it.
And in 2021, Apple added ATT (app tracking transparency tool), which forces other apps to ask for permission to track user data. Apple undoubtedly does more than most technology companies when it comes to users’ privacy.
But who says Apple can not roll out new protections while promoting a more competitive environment in the App Store? In addition, Apple users are not inherently better protected against bad actors.
For example, AirTags can be used to track people. And this is not malware, it’s a design flaw. Granted, Apple knows about this and is working to correct this bug through, so far, software messages.
Cook’s concerns may not be entirely unjustified, but there is still no evidence that allowing people to sideload, no matter how risky, will end users’ privacy.