US Lawmakers Question Apple Over its Blockchain Policies
- Apple recently disallowed Nostr, a blockchain application, from being downloaded on its App Store.
- The US lawmakers claimed Apple’s guidelines could possibly suppress competition and stifle innovation.
US lawmakers Gus Bilirakis and Jan Schakowsky penned a letter to Apple’s CEO Tim Cook in which they expressed concerns about the company’s policies on emerging technologies such as NFTs and blockchain technology. The representatives noted that Apple Store’s guidelines on these technologies were somewhat restrictive and could have an effect on the growth of the industry at large.
In their letter, the reps claimed that Apple’s guidelines sought to profit from and reduce the functionality of crypto apps by requiring them to create “lite” versions of their apps. The letter cited Axie Infinity, a blockchain-based game, as an illustration of the potential restrictions that these rules might place on blockchain projects.
While Apple said the limitations were a security measure, the chairman and ranking member of the Innovation, Data, and Commerce Subcommittee claimed the company could be using its App Store to suppress competition.
The lawmakers pointed out the possible effect of these App Store guidelines on the United States’ position as a global leader in developing technology as a key concern. They also highlighted the significance of completely understanding Apple’s regulations to evaluate how much they would impede innovation.
“It is essential that Congress fully understand the App Store Guidelines and the extent to which these guidelines limit innovation and impact American technological leadership,” the lawmakers said.
The representative added that the letter to Cook was part of their commitment to creating a “level playing field within the industry that allows American ingenuity to continue to thrive.” In addition, the lawmakers noted that holding big tech firms accountable would be essential to ensuring transparency in the US market.
Apple recently blocked Nostr from being downloaded from its App Store, leading to claims that it was stifling blockchain innovation. Nostr is an innovative protocol that could decentralize social media and strengthen censorship resistance. Apple claimed that it disallowed Nostr due to its support for Bitcoin transactions.
Lawrence has covered some exciting stories in his career as a journalist, he finds blockchain-related stories very intriguing. He believes Web3 will change the world and wants everyone to be a part of it.
