Apple's Cook says circumventing app store would harm user privacy

[NEW YORK] Apple chief executive officer Tim Cook said that proposed app store regulations in the US and European Union (EU) would put iPhone users' privacy at risk.

"If we are forced to let unvetted apps onto iPhones, the unintended consequences will be profound," Cook said during a keynote address at the Global Privacy Summit on Tuesday (Apr 12) in Washington. "Data-hungry companies would be able to avoid our privacy rules and once again track our users against their will."

Apple is under global scrutiny over app store policies. The EU is working on legislation that would force the company to allow apps to be installed from outside the Apple App Store, threatening Apple's grip on its platform and potentially limiting its ability to collect a commission from developers.

In the US, 2 bills that would regulate app stores run by Apple and Alphabet's Google have the best chance of becoming law among proposals aimed at reining in big technology companies. In July, 3 dozen states sued Google, alleging that the company illegally abused its power over the app industry through the Google Play store on mobile devices.

Apple has lobbied hard against app store regulations, arguing that they would make the iPhone ecosystem more similar to Android, limiting consumer choice and privacy. Last December, Cook met with several senators, including Minnesota Democrat Amy Klobuchar, about this bill and other antitrust proposals.

Other major tech companies, such as Spotify Technology and Microsoft, have lobbied in favour of opening up the iPhone App Store ecosystem. Last month, Google said it would begin letting some apps bill users directly as an alternative to paying through the Play Store, a concession to the mounting antitrust concerns. BLOOMBERG