Apple shouldn't use privacy & security to stave off competition, EU antitrust head warns

Responding to comments made by Apple CEO Tim Cook in June, European Union competition chief Margrethe Vestager said that Apple shouldn't use privacy and security concerns to stifle competition on the App Store.

Vestager, the European Commission's executive vice president, has proposed regulations that could force Apple to allow alternate app stores. Apple CEO Tim Cook spoke out against the proposal, stating that they could threaten the privacy and security of iOS.

In an interview with Reuters, Vestager agreed with Cook that privacy and security are important factors for consumers, but warned the Cupertino tech giant against using concerns about them to fend off competition.

"I think privacy and security is of paramount importance to everyone," Vestager said. "The important thing here is, of course, that it's not a shield against competition, because I think customers will not give up neither security nor privacy if they use another app store or if they sideload."

Vestager added that she was open to changes in her proposals, which need input from EU member states and lawmakers before it can become law.

"I think that it is possible to find solutions to this," Vestager said.

Sideloading, or app distribution outside of the official iOS App Store, has also been a talking point in antitrust debates in the U.S. — including during the Epic Games v. Apple trial. Apple in June released a report describing why it's against sideloading on its own platforms.

The EU competition chief told Reuters that recent privacy changes to iOS, including App Tracking Transparency, aren't currently an antitrust target. In fact, she praised Apple's new privacy controls.

"As I have said, I think actually several times, that it is a good thing when providers give us the service that we can easily set our preferences if we want to be tracked outside the use of an app or not as long as it's the same condition for everyone," Vestager added. "So far, we have no reason to believe that this is not the case for Apple."

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91 Comments

22july2013 3725 comments · 11 Years

About 3 years ago

AppleInsider said:

In an interview with Reuters, Vestager agreed with Cook that privacy and security are important factors for consumers, but warned the Cupertino tech giant against using concerns about them to fend off competition.

I guess the health and safety of drugs shouldn't be a motivating factor of drug companies either.

crowley 10431 comments · 15 Years

22july2013 said:

AppleInsider said:

In an interview with Reuters, Vestager agreed with Cook that privacy and security are important factors for consumers, but warned the Cupertino tech giant against using concerns about them to fend off competition.

I guess the health and safety of drugs shouldn't be a motivating factor of drug companies either.

I think a competition authority might say something like: health and safety of drugs are very important, but you don't get an indefinite patent because of it. You can't FUD your way to a competitive advantage.

Rayz2016 6957 comments · 8 Years

22july2013 said:

AppleInsider said:

In an interview with Reuters, Vestager agreed with Cook that privacy and security are important factors for consumers, but warned the Cupertino tech giant against using concerns about them to fend off competition.

I guess the health and safety of drugs shouldn't be a motivating factor of drug companies either.

I think what she’s saying is that you must make your OS more open to scams and malware to level the playing field.

The last time the EU got involved in stuff it knows nothing about, we ended up with a page full of questions and checkboxes in front of every website.

Rayz2016 said:

22july2013 said:

AppleInsider said:

In an interview with Reuters, Vestager agreed with Cook that privacy and security are important factors for consumers, but warned the Cupertino tech giant against using concerns about them to fend off competition.

I guess the health and safety of drugs shouldn't be a motivating factor of drug companies either.

I think what she’s saying is that you must make your OS more open to scams and malware to level the playing field.

The last time the EU got involved in stuff it knows nothing about, we ended up with a page full of questions and checkboxes in front of every website.

Hyperbole much? Most websites have a banner with an Accept Cookies button and nothing more. Also, we* also got much greater rights over our data, and much greater responsibility placed on the companies that hold our data. Tim Cook came out in favour of the GDPR.

* by which I mean EU citizens, which I sadly am no longer counted among, but some of the effect remains.

lkrupp 10521 comments · 19 Years

crowley said:

Rayz2016 said:

22july2013 said:

AppleInsider said:

In an interview with Reuters, Vestager agreed with Cook that privacy and security are important factors for consumers, but warned the Cupertino tech giant against using concerns about them to fend off competition.

I guess the health and safety of drugs shouldn't be a motivating factor of drug companies either.

I think what she’s saying is that you must make your OS more open to scams and malware to level the playing field.

The last time the EU got involved in stuff it knows nothing about, we ended up with a page full of questions and checkboxes in front of every website.

Hyperbole much? Most websites have a banner with an Accept Cookies button and nothing more. Also, we* also got much greater rights over our data, and much greater responsibility placed on the companies that hold our data. Tim Cook came out in favour of the GDPR.

* by which I mean EU citizens, which I sadly am no longer counted among, but some of the effect remains.

Well, you can always move to the EU and renounce your UK citizenship.