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Encrypted Messaging App Telegram Files Antitrust Complaint Against Apple With EU

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Apple is facing another antitrust complaint in Europe, this time from the developers of encrypted messaging app Telegram.

Telegram app
In a complaint to the EU Commission, the app's creators argue that Apple must give iOS users the opportunity to download software outside of the App Store. The Financial Times reports:

In a complaint to EU competition chief Margrethe Vestager, Telegram, which has more than 400m users, said Apple must "allow users to have the opportunity of downloading software outside of the App Store".

According to the paywalled report, Telegram's complaint recounts how in 2016 it was prevented from launching a gaming platform on the ‌App Store‌ because it was deemed to violate Apple's rules. Telegram subsequently dismantled the venture to avoid "being deleted from the ‌App Store‌," and claimed that it was "an example of Apple's capacity to curb innovation thanks to its 'monpolistic power' on the app market."

The complaint follows a blog post earlier this week by Telegram founder Pavel Durov in which he takes Apple to task and lists seven "myths" that the company uses to justify its 30 percent commission on apps hosted in the ‌App Store‌.

Telegram is the third company after Spotify and Rakuten to formally complain to the EU Commission, which is already conducting two investigations into Apple's ‌App Store‌ and Apple Pay.

This antitrust complaint is separate to the ongoing U.S. antitrust current investigation. On Wednesday, Apple CEO Tim Cook defended the company's ‌App Store‌ policies in a congressional hearing.

Tags: Apple Antitrust, European Commission, European Union, Telegram

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Top Rated Comments

A
Agneev
73 months ago
While I have massive respect for Telegram, demanding that Apple allow the installation from apps from untrusted sources is unacceptable.

This could be a big blow to privacy (the irony!) if Apple is compelled to make this a feature.

Imagine the lay user downloading an app from malicious pop ups thinking it's legitimate.
Score: 30 Votes (Like | Disagree)
Kuro Tanaka Avatar
Kuro Tanaka
73 months ago
Interesting how companies want to use Apple's platform but not pay Apple any fees.

Clearly companies want their apple pie and to eat it too.
Score: 21 Votes (Like | Disagree)
M
mikeenglish
73 months ago

I am excited how this plays out but I am sure this will take forever and will just be forgotten.

it would be great to have the OPTION to check „allow installing apps from 3rd party sources“ and a pop up quickly explaining the potential risks so Apple isn’t liable.
This happens on a Mac.
Score: 17 Votes (Like | Disagree)
Ramchi Avatar
Ramchi
73 months ago

Interesting how companies want to use Apple's platform but not pay Apple any fees.

Clearly companies want their apple pie and to eat it too.
Developers pay to register themselves before they can be App Store member. But Apple wants a cut in every transaction beyond what they provide as a platform and charge annual developer subscription In My Humble Opinion is nothing but ransom unless Apple helps the developer in the development process, solutioning, design, innovation etc...
Score: 14 Votes (Like | Disagree)
verpeiler Avatar
verpeiler
73 months ago

Interesting how companies want to use Apple's platform but not pay Apple any fees.

Clearly companies want their apple pie and to eat it too.
Maybe read the article. They don't want to use the platform.
Score: 14 Votes (Like | Disagree)
M
malkovich87
73 months ago

Developers pay to register themselves before they can be App Store member. But Apple wants a cut in every transaction beyond what they provide as a platform and charge annual developer subscription In My Humble Opinion is nothing but ransom unless Apple helps the developer in the development process, solutioning, design, innovation etc...
It’s a typical monopoly abuse situation. Developers have no choice but to develop for the Apple platforms if they want to survive. And Apple abuses that fact by asking unreasonably high fees.
Score: 13 Votes (Like | Disagree)
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