Apple defends its App Store, while Congress examines if the tightly controlled marketplace creates a monopoly

Every app available from Apple’s App Store is vetted by the company to ensure malware, cybercriminals, and scammers are blocked from the store, according to Apple.

Some members of Congress see it differently. 

Apple and other tech companies “have maintained monopoly power in the online marketplace by using a variety of anticompetitive behaviors to stifle competition,” according to an announcement from Rep. David N. Cicilline (D-RI), chairman of the Antitrust Subcommittee and Rep. Ken Buck (R-Colo.) the subcommittee’s ranking member. 

A hearing examining several bills aimed at big tech (https://judiciary.house.gov/) is taking place today (Weds, June 23) on Capitol Hill. 

According to a report released by Apple this month, the current setup of the App Store is crucial to maintaining security and privacy. 

“Today, it is extremely rare for any user to encounter malware on iPhone,” the report states. “Some have suggested that we should create ways for developers to distribute their apps outside of the  App Store, through websites or third-party app stores, a process called “sideloading.” Allowing sideloading would degrade the security of the iOS platform and expose users to serious security risks not only on third-party app stores, but also on the App Store. Because of the large size of the iPhone user base and the sensitive data stored on their phones – photos, location data, health and financial information – allowing sideloading would spur a flood of new investment into attacks on the platform. Malicious actors would take advantage of the opportunity by devoting more resources to develop sophisticated attacks targeting iOS users, thereby expanding the set of weaponized exploits and attacks – often referred to as a “threat model” – that all users need to be safeguarded against.”

For Rep. Cicilline, that tight control creates an unfair marketplace.

“Right now, unregulated tech monopolies have too much power over our economy,” he said. “They are in a unique position to pick winners and losers, destroy small businesses, raise prices on consumers, and put folks out of work. Our agenda will level the playing field and ensure the wealthiest, most powerful tech monopolies play by the same rules as the rest of us.”

View the Apple report HERE.

Stream the congressional hearing HERE.