Apple has allegedly sent a letter to lawmakers proclaiming that two antitrust bills currently being considered in the Senate could put iPhone users at greater risk of cyberattacks. It sent the letter to the Senate Judiciary Committee. The two antitrust bills over which Apple has been showing concern are to be raised by the Senate Judiciary Committee.
“These bills will reward those who have been irresponsible with users’ data and empower bad actors who would target consumers with malware, ransomware, and scams,” Timothy Powderly, Apple’s senior director of government affairs, wrote in the letter to lawmakers.
One of the letters is the Opens App Markets Act which was initiated by Democratic Senator Richard Blumenthal and Republican Senator Marsha Blackburn. This bill would put up new rules for the app stores like Apple. The Opens App Markets Act would allow iPhone users to sideload. Sideload means giving access to users to download applications from sites other than the Apple store. Apple claimed that sideloading would increase the risk of cyberattacks.
The second bill over which Apple raised its voice is the American Innovation and Choice Online Act, which was introduced by Democratic Senator Amy Klobuchar and Republican Senator Chuck Grassley. This act would prohibit companies with authoritative online platforms from recommending their products and services over those of competitors.
Google also wrote a letter expressing its views on the proposed bills. It said that this bill would stop popular products that help consumers and small businesses.
