Apple CEO Criticizes Digital Markets Act for Threatening iPhone Security
At the VivaTech 2021 conference in Paris, Apple CEO Tim Cook expressed concerns that proposed legislation in Europe, specifically the Digital Markets Act (DMA), could severely compromise the privacy and security of the iPhone. Cook highlighted that the DMA is designed to prevent large companies like Apple and Google from abusing their market power; however, he argued that certain aspects of the legislation could be detrimental to user interests.
The draft regulation, set to be enforced starting in 2023, would impose significant fines of up to 10% of global revenue on companies that fail to comply. Cook pointed out that the current language of the DMA includes provisions for “sideloading” apps onto iPhones, which he believes would undermine the security measures Apple has implemented. He stated, “This would destroy the security of the iPhone and a lot of the privacy initiatives that we built into the app store,” referring to features such as privacy labels and app tracking transparency, which require user consent for tracking across applications.
He emphasized his concern that the proposed changes could eliminate these privacy protections, leaving users vulnerable. Cook reassured that Apple would engage constructively in discussions around the legislation to advocate for user interests, stating, “We have a responsibility to say when it’s not in the best interest of the user.” He expressed optimism about the outcome of these deliberations.
