Apple has publicly reprimanded sideloading apps on its ecosystem several times in the past. In yet another indication of the tech giant’s attitude on the issue, a top Apple official has spoken out against any future law that would oblige Apple to expose its app store to sideloading.
Apple senior vice president Craig Federighi recently spoke about the issue at the Web Summit 2021 in Lisbon.
Federighi mentioned the Digital Markets Act legislation, which was introduced last year and might require Apple to enable the installation of apps from sources other than the App Store on iPhones. The Apple executive had one trump card in the argument, which was well known. Apple has always maintained iOS safe from viruses and other internet threats. Over the years, the iPhone operating system has gained a global following for its safe ecosystem, thanks in part to its thorough scrutiny of apps posted on the App Store.
Federighi makes an unarguable point. The only plausible counter-argument is the freedom of choice provided by app sideloading for smartphone consumers. According to Federighi, iPhone customers were unaware of this for good reason. He emphasizes the hazards of allowing consumers to choose whether to sideload apps.
Of fact, the digital world is far more sophisticated than what is shown. A sizable proportion of smartphone users can be misled by threat actors. Apple avoids exposing iPhone users to such threats by ensuring that all apps inside its ecosystem are reviewed in line with its own standards.
