You should be suggesting that whoever wrote the EU’s regulation should be slapped. So many loopholes…
This will certainly be investigated for violation of EU competition law. Which is no paper tiger.
US competition law used to be forcefully enforced in the past. In the last 20 years, it has allowed the creation of overly dominant companies particularly in tech.
I’m sure if EU dared to impose maximum fines, Apple would cry to the US who would then put pressure on to reduce the fines.
It’s all in the end-users hands. I lived all my life without Apple.
Well, then you have live with Google. At least, Apple doesn’t monetize every single fart of yours.
Or Microsoft. Which in many respects is even worse.
And Microsoft doesn’t make any smartphones.
As for the original article, if I understand it correctly, this only applies to apps that don’t use in-app purchases (which are subject to commissions) but link out to web-sites for that process.
I actually support Apple position on the whole subject.
99.999% of Apple’s user-base cannot make an informed decision when such an externally linked page is posing a threat or is a scam.
You just may want to check your history. The US has never pressured the EU on any of their competition law decisions.
You may recall in March 2004 Microsoft was fined €497 million for bundling Windows Media Player with its Windows operating system, which was the largest fine imposed by the EU at that time. Additionally, in March 2013, Microsoft was fined €561 million for failing to comply with a previous settlement related to browser choice. Later, in February 2008, the EU imposed an additional fine of €899 million on Microsoft for non-compliance with the 2004 antitrust decision. Just short of two billion euros.
Just for context: Apple was fined something like 2 billion last year by the EU. EU competition law allows for fines of up to 10% of annual revenue. Apple’s revenue is 300 billion or so.
Exactly. Hit em with 30bn and they will get serious.
I too am happy with Apple’s business model.
Yes, I run on android. That’s open source. I deleted my google-account etc. on my handy, there are other places to get apps (Aurora store etc.)
It’s a communication tool, not my bff that has my attention 24/7 and priority to any real life around me yet I would not be surprised, if people began furting through it too. 
I have disabled most notifications of apps, with maybe a handful exceptions (one being Teams, the other being the Viseca app that notifies me of charges…).
While the OS is sort-of open source, almost non of the drivers are.
And I believe Google has become sluggish with actually publishing recent source code.
Additionally, I believe banking apps refuse to run on phones with rooted bootloaders, which would require dedicated devices for the banks 2FA…
And how do you verify the integrity of the apps you download from 3rd party appstores?
Lastly, I have no time to maintain anything like that on my phone.
No need to root
How do google users verify integrity? Play store full of malware apps for years now.
Back to Apple as in the title …
Yup. Another reason why I don’t use the Google ecosystem apart from search and maps 
That is not to say that the size of Apple’s business (Apple is, I think, larger than the economies of two thirds of the countries in the world) or its influence isn’t problematic in some cases.
But a “solution” that creates more problems in other areas should not be implemented.
The challenge is the same for both apple and android app stores. There have been malware on both app stores. I think the best way is just to avoid downloading too many apps and stick to apps from trusted providers.
LOL, this sounds fairly incoherent. And you flagged me as well. Attaboy.
Er:
Apple’s App Store is generally considered more secure than other platforms due to its strict app review process and security measures, it is not entirely immune to malware. Recently, security researcher Alex Kleber discovered seven malware apps on the Mac App Store. These apps were disguised as legitimate applications by different publishers, but they were actually created by a single group based in China. The apps included PDF Reader for Adobe PDF Files, Word Writer Pro, and others. Although Apple has removed these apps from the store, they remain on devices that downloaded them, so users are advised to delete them immediately.
Apple employs several security measures to prevent malware from reaching users, including automated scans, human reviews, and manual checks. However, malicious developers sometimes manage to bypass these checks by submitting benign versions of apps that later activate hidden malware. Despite these incidents, the App Store’s security measures make widespread attacks impractical and uneconomical for financially-driven attackers
What review/security measures do you think the Apple app store has that the Google Play store doesn’t?
I have a personal Android and a corporate iPhone. From my experience with both, I don’t think there’s a measurable difference in the quality of the appstores, both are fairly mature, QA processes seem to be robust at both and naturally, from time to time rubbish will go through, no wall is perfect.
Google Play offers a range of safety features aimed at protecting users from harmful apps, but it is not entirely foolproof. Here are the key aspects regarding the safety of Google Play:
Safety Features
- Google Play Protect: This built-in security tool scans apps for harmful behavior before downloading and periodically checks installed apps. It can warn users about potentially harmful apps, deactivate them, or remove them automatically if detected as harmful.
- Vetting Mechanisms: Google employs various vetting processes to keep malicious apps off the platform. The company continually updates its policies to adapt to new threats and improve user safety.
- User Privacy Protections: Google has strict policies against apps that misuse personal data. Developers are required to provide clear privacy policies and limit data collection to what is necessary.
Risks and Vulnerabilities
Despite these measures, Google Play is not completely safe:
- Malware Incidents: There have been instances where malicious apps have bypassed Google’s defenses, affecting hundreds of thousands of devices. Users are advised to remain vigilant and check app permissions and download counts before installing apps.
- User Responsibility: Users play a crucial role in their safety by being cautious about the apps they download. Checking for privacy policies, permissions, and the number of downloads can help mitigate risks.
In summary, while Google Play incorporates robust safety measures, users should remain proactive in protecting themselves against potential threats.