Tim Cook delivers speech railing against “data industrial complex,” sideloading

Apple CEO Tim Cook spoke at the annual International Association of Privacy Professionals conference on Tuesday about privacy, security, ad tracking, and sideloading.

Calling privacy "one of the most essential battles of our time," Cook lambasted companies that moneteize large user data collection operations, comparing them to real-world stalkers.

He claimed that Apple maintains a commitment to protecting people from a data industrial complex built on a foundation of surveilling.

He said that he and Apple are concerned about regulations that would undermine privacy and security in service of some other aim.

He was likely referring to the European Union's Digital Markets Act and the United States' Open App Markets Act, both of which have language about forcing platform holders like Apple to allow sideloading.

The current iteration of the Digital Markets Act does not include a sideloading requirement. The Senate Judiciary Committee recently approved the Open App Markets Act, but it has not yet been brought to the floor of Congress.

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Cook said that new regulations like these.

That means data-hungry companies would be able to avoid our privacy rules, and once again track our users against their will. It would also potentially give bad actors a way around the comprehensive security protections we've put in place, putting them in direct contact with our users, and we have already seen the vulnerability that creates on other companies' devices.

He pointed to an example of a case where a group of people side loaded seemingly legitimate COVID-19- tracking apps and ended up with their phones locked up.

Cook said that if we are forced to let unvetted apps onto iPhone, the consequences will be profound.

Cook believes that side loading could become so commonplace that important apps will only be installed by that method, rather than through the App Store, which he claims is safer. Cook argues that if that happens, the idea of giving users a choice goes away because they might feel pressure to sideload apps.

Cook tried to assure the audience that Apple believes in competition, but he did not offer any alternative solutions for those who are concerned that the control over the App Store allows it to charge app developers excessive fees or subject them to unfair rules.

Cook was not the first Apple executive to speak at a large conference to make the case that new regulation meant to ensure continued competition could undermine user security and privacy. Craig Federighi gave a speech at the Web Summit.