BRUSSELS: Margrethe Vestager, Europe’s technology commissioner, advised Apple on Friday against invoking privacy and security concerns to stifle competition on its App Store, citing reasons given by CEO Tim Cook for not allowing customers to install software from outside the Store. Last year, Vestager, who is also the executive vice president of the European Commission, proposed rules known as the Digital Markets Act (DMA) that would force Apple to open up its lucrative App Store so that users could download apps from the internet or third-party app stores, a practice known as side-loading.
Last month, at an event, Cook stated that the idea would jeopardize iPhone security and privacy.
Cook’s security concerns are shared by Vestager.
In an interview with Reuters, Vestager said, “I think privacy and security are of paramount significance to everyone.”
“The crucial point here is, of course, that it’s not a barrier to competition,” she said, “because I don’t believe users will give up security or privacy if they use another app store or sideload.”
Vestager stated that she was open to amendments to her proposal, which must be approved by EU governments and legislators before becoming law.
“I believe it is feasible to find solutions,” she stated.
Unlike Google’s intention to restrict a common web tracking technique known as “cookies,” which was part of her inquiry into the Alphabet unit’s digital advertising business begun last month, Vestager said Apple’s privacy adjustments were not in her crosshairs for the time being.
In April, Apple released an iOS upgrade with new privacy measures aimed at preventing internet advertising from tracking iPhone users.
“As I have previously stated, I believe it is a good thing when companies provide us with the ability to easily establish our preferences as to whether we want to be monitored outside of the use of an app or not, as long as the conditions are the same for everyone. We have no reason to suspect that this isn’t the case with Apple so far “she stated An emailed request for comment from Apple was not immediately returned. (Foo Yun Chee contributed reporting, and Philippa Fletcher edited the piece.)/n
