China: “Remove all VPNs”
Apple: “Sure thing”
China: “…and podcast apps”
Apple: “Can do boss!”
China: “…and also hand over all iCloud data for our citizens”
Apple: “I mean why wouldn’t we? Here you go!”
EU: “Allow alternate app stores, and do it fairly”
Apple: “Ahhh hell no! This is so unfair you guys are bullies! Malware! Privacy! We have standards! Unlike you we care about our users!”
@rustyshelf China govt has teeth and will destroy Apple's production capacity if they push back. This is a direct threat to their business and thus something called "fiduciary responsibility" kicks in and literally requires their leadership to act in the interest of shareholders
The EU has no teeth. They have no way to hurt Apple enough without producing huge backlash. Once again "fiduciary responsibility" dictates that Apple do whatever they can to maximize shareholder profit, which means pushing back when they know they can
It sucks but until the EU figures out a way to really hold Apple's feet to the fire, the law requires this response
@zbrando @rustyshelf I'll believe it when I see it. And I expect the next two headlines to read "Apple closing all retail stores across Europe" and then "Consumers outraged over EU's Apple fiasco, demand accountability".
Because consumers don't care about alternative app stores. They just want their phones and laptops.
Apple has insane cash-on-hand and could easily outlast any such embargo, IMO
Russell Ivanovic
neatchee
zbrando
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