The two largest technology companies in the world, Apple and Facebook, are on each other’s neck and are on the verge of a legal dispute over user privacy.
However, privacy is only the supposed reason – the real reason is money.
The outcome of the great technology war will not only determine the future of these companies, but also the technology and how we use it as the world depends on their devices and apps.
Apple and Facebook are fighting against each other to determine how the user should use its services. It’s not a new battle. It’s been brewing beneath the surface for almost a decade.
It is now that it came to a head. The problem escalated Thursday after Apple announced major changes to its software. It will update its devices like iPhone and iPad.
The upgrades could arrive in the spring and add new features that let users know which app is collecting what data about you. In other words, the Apple upgrades will reveal the apps you’re sniffing at.
Apple has demonstrated how these new features will work on their website. When an app tracks your contact information, your location, your financials, your purchases, your browsing history – what you’re looking for will tell you. Apple tells you which app is tracking you and how. The information is broken down for you which should be great news for all users.
It’s not good news for Facebook as users now know what Facebook is tracking and Facebook now needs your permission before collecting your data that is bad enough for Facebook. What’s worse, however, is that Apple is making an example of this.
Apple uses Facebook in illustrations to show what the new features would look like, to describe how their devices can stop data theft. A user receives a request on their screen that Facebook or another app wants to track activities on other websites and apps. A user is given two options: allow or deny tracking.
This means that Apple has declared war on data collection on Facebook. However, Apple does nothing to serve users, it just helps itself to make a virtue out of a business plan.
Apple CEO Tim Cook spoke about it. He didn’t mention Facebook, however, but criticized the business practices that Facebook has developed over the years.
“If a company is based on misleading users, on data usage, and on decisions that are not decisions at all, then it doesn’t deserve our praise. It deserves reform. We shouldn’t look the other way. In a moment of indulgence.” Disinformation and conspiracy theories juiced up by algorithms, we can no longer turn a blind eye to a technology theory that says that every engagement is a good engagement, the longer the better and with the aim of collecting as much data as possible “said Tim Said Cook.
However, Apple does not provide a public service, it wages a corporate battle and Facebook is fighting back, whoever wins will dictate terms to the users. Last month, Facebook posted attack ads in three American newspapers. Facebook has plastered its criticism of Apple on the front pages and now wants to take Apple to court.
Facebook is considering a lawsuit. According to a report, Facebook has brought in an external legal advisor. The lawsuit could relate to the App Store. Facebook wants to sue Apple for “anti-competitive measures”. Apple is accused of preferring Apple’s apps. Apple is said to be restricting outside developers like Facebook, but before the matter goes to court, Facebook has started fighting Apple online.
The social media giant has created a website called Apple. There are testimonials from small business owners. They express concern about the changes Apple will be making to its software.
Mark Zuckerberg entered the battlefield himself. He was recently on a conference call with Wall Street analysts. He assumed this was Apple’s messaging app, only available in the Apple ecosystem – only those with iPhones and iPads can connect through i-message, not Android users.
On Wednesday, Zuckerberg said in a conference call with Wall Street analysts that he sees Apple as one of Facebook’s “biggest competitors”. He cited i-message, Apple’s iPhone-specific SMS service, as an existential threat to Facebook’s social networking services.
He added that Apple “had every incentive to use their dominant platform position” to disrupt Facebook and other apps. Apple regularly treats its own apps in the App Store cheaper, he said.
It may have a point, unfortunately it doesn’t have the sympathy of users and legislators because of its guidelines.
Facebook and Apple are two of America’s most valuable companies – one is a social network, the other is consumer electronics. They are not direct competitors, but clearly they are now sworn enemies.
