Blackburn, Blumenthal Defend App Store Bill, After Apple CEO Blasts It

Apple CEO Tim Cook’s comments last week criticizing new antirust legislation on privacy grounds suggest he’s “terrified” of competition, and that the company doesn’t want U.S. consumers circumventing the App Store (see 2204120062), said Sens. Marsha Blackburn, R-Tenn., and Richard Blumenthal, D-Conn., in a statement Friday. Cook spoke about privacy concerns about the Open App Markets Act (S-2710), introduced by Blackburn and Blumenthal, leaders of the Senate Consumer Protection Subcommittee. “It misses the mark to say we can’t have both consumer privacy and competition in the app marketplace,” they said. The Senate Judiciary Committee-passed bill “acknowledges this balance. Suggesting otherwise is a scare tactic to justify closing markets off to competition.” They agreed with Cook about the need for comprehensive privacy legislation and said there are active discussions among parties.