[hnra]

The first facebook issue that you mention is unrelated to the App Store, it’s an OS restriction. Side loading won’t affect this.

Apple can clearly make the OS secure/privacy friendly if they want to. The only layer of security that you may lose is the dubious “review” process, which clearly doesn’t do anything considering the amount of scam apps on the store.

[jasode]

>The first facebook issue that you mention is unrelated to the App Store, it’s an OS restriction. Side loading won’t affect this.

Your sentences above are a prime example of a technology mindset being so familiar with the underlying technology that it actually handicaps the analysis of how people might use the tech in ways you don't expect.

The way the sideloaded app gets around the os-level restriction is that they would force users to give permission to the ad-tracking. Otherwise, the sideloaded app has crippled functionality.

That scenario can't happen on Apple's offical App Store because their policies don't allow apps to have crippled functionality when users opt-out of ad tracking.

The theme is that the side-loaded apps can exercise way more freedom with clever psychological dark patterns that bypasses os-level settings.

E.g. see related example from Twitter: https://www.techgoing.com/twitter-ads-may-track-users-in-vio...

[Gareth321]

> That scenario can't happen on Apple's offical App Store because their policies don't allow apps to have crippled functionality when users opt-out of ad tracking.

There is a simple solution for Apple: disable ad tracking on iOS. The DMA doesn't require gatekeepers permit ad tracking. It only requires gatekeepers provide the same functionality they provide themselves. Apple is still perfectly able to provide a safe and secure OS under the legislation.