As Apple strives to stand on protecting their customers’ privacy, its CEO, Tim Cook, finally took action against the internet giants. This latest move from Apple may endanger Facebook and Google’s core business as it stresses its influence in the mobile industry.
The Standoff
Just last week, Apple announced the revocation of Facebook and Google’s enterprise developer licenses. It means Apple will disable their internal employee network apps temporarily. According to Apple, they made such move after reports show both companies have installed side apps on Apple’s operating system (OS).
Apple claims the installation of such apps violated their rules and standards. It prompted Apple to suspend their developer licenses which eventually disrupted their core functions and businesses.
The employees of both companies were appalled to discover they couldn’t access their iOS mobiles while running through their schedules for the day.
According to the New York Times, most Facebook employees reported they couldn’t access their transit schedules, calendars, and events on their MacBooks and iPhones. The disruption in Facebook’s internal communication will prompt the company to rebuild their internal apps.
The problem is that this development will not only take for weeks, but it also disrupts the company’s core business as they’ll be forced to dedicate their time in rebuilding apps instead of focusing on working their projects.
The Feud
Business Insider also reported both Facebook and Google employees blamed the tech-giant for halting their core operations. They see this as retaliation between their ongoing feud when it comes to privacy. According to Pedro Canahuati, Facebook values their relationship with Apple.
Most of their employees use Apple products ranging from their powerful MacBooks and workstations down to their tablets and iPhones every day.
Facebook’s executive Pedro Canahuati claims they respect Apple’s view and will work on modifying their process to make sure they abide with the company’s rules and terms.
Suffice to say Apple’s iOS system and products play a crucial role in their success. Despite the temporary suspension they experienced, he claims Facebook still strives to maintain a professional relationship with Apple as they wouldn’t do anything to put their business connection at risk.
The Warning
The public had the first glimpse of privacy standoff among these three internet giants last October 2018. Last year, Apple’s CEO, Tim Cook, criticized the two internet giants for collecting data from their users and disclosing it on collection firms. Cook also claims these companies compromise their users’ personal information and use it as a weapon for military efficiency.
Cook uttered the comment in a speech he attended in Brussels, Belgium last year.
He claims Google and Facebook didn’t protect their users’ data as they claimed to be. Instead, these companies implement “surveillance” practices to stalk their users’ data. A few months later, Cook finally took a significant action against these internet giants. Before this attack, Apple launched privacy measures to alert their users whenever a particular website or app tracks their data.
The Damage
They also launched Time Spent privacy measures to protect their users’ browsing habit on iPhones. However, the business experts claim it’s the first time Apple took an aggressive measure by hindering users’ access and development. The said move sustained significant damage to Facebook and Google’s operations if Apple wants to. However, the business analysts claim the damage inflicted isn’t only one way.
According to them, it goes both ways as Google, and Facebook products remain the most popular apps on the Apple Store. The millions of downloads contribute to Apple’s surging service fees and revenue. Aside from that, Google pays Apple billions of dollars every year to keep Google its default search engine on Apple products like iPhones, MacBooks, and tablets.
The Claim
Apple lifted the said suspension last Thursday night, as their spokesperson announced they implemented the said feature to protect their users’ data from privacy breach. The business analysts are wondering whether they will pull the same stunt and claim the same reasoning in the future. Meanwhile, Canahuati admitted Apple still holds authority in the internet arena since they ultimately decide the rules.
