The Open Markets Act, which would force Apple to allow sideloading on iOS, has passed the Senate Judiciary Committee and will now go to the full Senate for a vote.
According to reports voted Judiciary Committee members voted almost unanimously 21-1 for the bill on Thursday. Senator John Cornyn was the only committee member to vote no on the antitrust bill. The Open Markets Act is an antitrust bill that would impose additional restrictions on large technology companies like Apple and Google. It would prohibit those companies from allowing sideloading - downloading apps from outside of an official app store - on their platform. In Apple's case, it would allow users to download apps from places other than the App Store.
Tech giant from Cupertino rails against sideloading
Additionally, the bill would prohibit companies from requiring developers to use their own payment systems and it prohibits the practice of big tech giants using nonpublic information to compete with other apps. Apple has been critical of the bill in several letters to members of the Senate Judiciary Committee. Cupertino believes the bill would harm users' privacy, security, and choice if not amended accordingly. Apple executives have said that sideloading on iOS would create a "gold rush" for malware. Additionally, Apple has explained in several reports why it believes sideloading would be bad for iOS users and developers. How the full Senate will ultimately decide remains to be seen. (Photo by Unsplash / James Yarema)
