Despite Apple and Twitter making amends, Elon Musk’s series of tweets earlier this week calling out Apple about its App Store policies have caused other CEOs and lawmakers to speak out against the computer giant.
Key Details
- Elon Musk and Apple CEO TIm Cook have made up, but not before Musk’s tweets started a deep dive into Apple’s App Store policies.
- Musk’s call-out tweets about Apple from earlier in the week have caused many lawmakers and industry leaders to complain about the power Apple holds over the app process.
- Spotify, Meta, and many Republican lawmakers took to Twitter to call out Apple on its App Store policies—and its 30% app commission, which Musk originally called “secret tax.”
- “This is why we need to end the App Store duopoly before the end of this year. No one should have this kind of market power,” Rep. Ken Buck (R-Colo.) tweeted.
Why it’s news
Lawmakers and industry leaders are taking to Twitter to call out Apple for abusing its power by having extensive App Store policies which include a 30% commission for most apps putting others at a big disadvantage.
The rally against Apple started with Twitter owner Elon Musk tweeting about Apple cutting back on ad spending for Twitter and charging high App Store fees.
He also accused Apple of hating free speech in America—but Musk has since reconciled with Apple after meeting with CEO Tim Cook at the Apple headquarters and squashing the miscommunication between the two companies.
Although Apple and Twitter reconciled, Musk’s tweets had already opened the door for others to attack Apple for its strict policies and fees.
Many Republicans took to Twitter calling for more regulation in big tech including Sen. Marsha Blackburn (R-Tenn.) who tweeted “Apple’s alleged threat to remove Twitter from its App Store further proves we must rein in big tech.”
These arguments aren’t new as many companies have been attempting to rein in Apple’s power for years.
Although many companies are against Apple and its policies it hasn’t seemed to make a change to Apple’s fanbase who remain with the company despite what other big companies are saying.
