They are “warning” in the sense of describing what they claim will be negative outcomes from this. It’s not a threat. As for China, what would they say? “Your policy of surveillance and censorship puts users’ privacy and freedom at risk”? They know, that’s the whole point.
While this isn't exactly warning Australia as a threat as many comments have suggested. It wasn't long ago Apple actually warn that they might pull iPhone out those countries.
Their PR system aren't as good as it was and plenty of traces left on the internet.
They aren't warning Australia as a threat, they are making a very valid argument:
> Apple claims that allowing sideloading and alternative app stores effectively opens the door for malware, fraud, scams, and other harmful content.
You don't want random apps on your phone. The App Store vets apps thoroughly to ensure there's no malware. It would be virtually impossible to do the same for arbitrary apps getting side loaded.
A walled app store is neither necessary nor sufficient to prevent malware and scams. This is just Apple trotting out their usual arguments to try and stem the tide of countries that are mandating side-loading.
The worry (not sure it is merited) is that major app developers like Meta, Google, etc will start their own app stores, leading everyone to need to start downloading apps from outside Apple’s App Store.
Yeah, I think it not happening on Android is probably evidence it won’t happen. Unless Meta et al have been waiting until they can do it on both major platforms.
This is the part I wish Apple apologists get. Your precious Macbook Pro allows arbitrary apps to be installed over internet, and that seems to be doing just OK.
But to be honest, I am in android and I have some deep criticisms of android too. Wish things were more linux like (ie. literally running pure linux in mobile phones), there is pinephone os but I kinda wish that it becomes mainstream enough
Not really. A random app I download from Github Releases can easily ship my ~/.ssh/id_rsa off to some server and I'd never be wiser. That's very hard to do on a phone.
They're not the same thing and treating them as if they are is somewhat naive.
I think the point is that even that threat hasn't rendered MacBooks to be widely deemed insecure or untrustworthy. So, if the threat of similar insecurities were to show up on phones (which is debatable since AFAIK both iOS and Android have substantially different security models compared to traditional desktop OS apps), why would phones suffer a different fate than laptops or desktops?
Ever heard of the term "Banana republic" ? That's what happens than company have a lot more money than a country. Overthrowing governments, coups, astronomical bribes - anything goes.
I’m concerned because I was close to suggesting that anything Apple is against must be good. But I like their stance on privacy. Them going so hard on making a point about being anti-consumer may harm future privacy efforts.
Until I can run the code I wrote onto the hardware I bought without restrictions or timeouts, it’s not sideloading. _That_ is what regulators should have forced Apple to do.
I think the word "warn" is a bit of editorializing (by the Guardian, originally). They're just making the same argument in Australia that they did before the EU.
Or else the policy will “bring increased privacy and security risks to users, opening the door for malware, fraud and scams; illicit and harmful content; and other threats.”
Yeah sure, most users do not sideload. It's mostly used to add extra stores too by power users, especially on Android, rather than loading random apps.
Who the heck does Apple think they are?
Also, why doesnt Apple "warn" China for the well documented privacy/security implications in that country?