At an event of the International Association for Privacy (IAPP), Apple CEO Tim Cook said that sideloading (installing apps from sources outside the App Store) on iOS devices will allow advertisers and hackers to bad guys circumvent Apple’s app store regulations to get and sell users’ data.
According to Tim Cook, the company has built its reputation on measures to protect user data. Apple stands firm on keeping the iOS and iPadOS ecosystem closed. Tim Cook went on to say that sideloading opens the door for malicious apps to compromise user data, he also hypothesized that companies could bypass Apple’s App Store to bypass layers of security and ease. Easier to exploit user data.
Tim Cook’s speech mentioned bills from the US and other governments to force Apple to allow sideloading. In late March, the bill that would force Apple to allow sideloading of apps was one step closer to being signed into law in the European Union.
Apple’s longtime legal rival, Epic Games, has accused Apple of proprietary practices by not allowing sideloading on the iOS operating system, not accepting third-party payment methods. Earlier this year, South Korea passed a law forcing Apple to add a third-party payment method to its stores.
Reference: TechSpot