Tim Cook doesn't like that Musk is going against Apple.
Musk is a powerful, vocal person with powerful, vocal friends, and his continued criticism will shine a very public light on how much power Apple has overTwitter and other app-based businesses.
In a reply to David Sacks of the "PayPal Mafia", Musk said that Apple and others control access to most of the internet through their app stores.
If Apple decides that it doesn't like an app, it can take it out of the App Store, which is used by at least half of the US market.
The app Parler was removed by Apple after the Capitol siege. Parler beefed up its moderation policies and Apple let it back onto the App Store. Tech watchers say Apple could pull it from the App Store, too, as Musk loosened the content moderation policies. An Apple spokesman didn't reply to Insider's request for comment on Musk's statements.
It's too much power for one company to have, according to Musk. While other companies have filed lawsuits against Apple, the company has stood its ground.
Will more people notice when Musk makes noise?
The governor of Florida said Tuesday that Congress should act if the app store ever banned it.
Apple takes a 30% cut from any in-app sales made through its App Store if Musk ends up throwing the match that eventually causes Apple to change. Musk also took aim at that.
Musk said that Apple was threatening to pull the app from the store. Cook told CBS News two weeks ago that they are going to moderate. I know they'll do that.
Musk, who likes to make changes quickly at the companies he runs, could eventually find his vision limited by Apple's policies Failure to comply with the policies could lead to the removal of the app from the store.
The SEC filing states that the mobile business is dependent on and can be impacted by digital storefront operators, such as the Apple App Store and the Google Play Store.
It's a concern for any business that makes an app, and Musk's comments have led others in the tech industry to revisit their previous criticisms.
Daniel Ek and Tim Sweeney are both CEOs of games companies.
Sweeney has experience going head-to-head with the company. The hit game "Fortnite" was removed from the App Store by Apple in 2020 after players were allowed to directly pay for in-game purchases. Apple was accused of engaging in anti-competitive actions.
Apple doesn't want to be involved in lawsuits with discovery process, depositions, and testimonies. A judge ruled last year that Apple's practices were not monopolistic and ordered the company to allow app developers to link out to other ways of making purchases that would avoid the Apple tax.
In its fiscal fourth quarter, Apple's services business brought in over $19 billion in revenue, which can be impacted by concessions. The ruling in the case was appealed by Apple.
Tim Cook and Apple have mostly avoided putting Apple in the hot seat.
In response to a Monday poll he posted asking "Apple should publish all censorship actions it has taken that affect its customers," Musk said "the people have spoken."
More than 80% of the responses voted "yes"
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