Elon Musk locks horns with Apple, says they’ve threatened to take away Twitter from App Store

On November 28 (native time), billionaire and Twitter’s new proprietor Elon Musk lashed out at Apple for the App Store insurance policies and tax guidelines. Musk accused the iPhone maker of blocking adverts on Twitter with out specifying why. Furthermore, Musk added that the corporate was pressuring Twitter over calls for associated to content material moderation. He requested Apple if the corporate was in opposition to “free speech” in America. He tagged Apple’s CEO, Tim Cook, and requested what was occurring.

What’s occurring right here @tim_cook?

— Elon Musk (@elonmusk) November 28, 2022

The causes behind the alleged threats to Twitter by Apple to “withhold” from the App Store are unclear. Musk stated, “Apple has also threatened to withhold Twitter from its App Store, but won’t tell us why.”

Apple has additionally threatened to withhold Twitter from its App Store, however received’t inform us why

— Elon Musk (@elonmusk) November 28, 2022

However, Musk’s tweets point out that the social media platform’s new moderation coverage leaning in the direction of “safeguarding free speech” could possibly be the explanation behind it. Musk additionally ran a ballot asking Twitter customers if Apple ought to publish all censorship actions it has taken that have an effect on its prospects.

Apple ought to publish all censorship actions it has taken that have an effect on its prospects

— Elon Musk (@elonmusk) November 28, 2022

In Another tweet, Musk stated the “free speech suppression” that occurred on Twitter ought to be revealed on Twitter itself as the general public deserves to know what had occurred.

The Twitter Files on free speech suppression quickly to be revealed on Twitter itself. The public deserves to know what actually occurred …

— Elon Musk (@elonmusk) November 28, 2022

Furthermore, there is no such thing as a official assertion from Apple stating why Apple stopped adverts on Twitter. In a report, Reuters identified that between November 10 to November 16, Apple had spent $131,600 on Twitter adverts. However, it was near doubling between October 16 and October 20 at $220,800, per week earlier than Musk closed the cope with Twitter at $44 billion and made it non-public.

This just isn’t the primary time Apple has eliminated a social media platform from App Store. Earlier, Parler, a substitute for Twitter, was faraway from Apple’s App Store over content material moderation following the US Capitol riots in January 2021. Later, in May 2021, the app was restored to App Store after Parler up to date the content material moderation insurance policies. Similarly, one other app Lbry was requested by Apple to “filter some search terms”.

During Covid, Apple demanded our apps filter some search phrases from being returned. If we didn’t filter the phrases, our apps wouldn’t be allowed within the retailer.

Apple might make good merchandise, however they’ve been against free speech for a while.

— LBRY 🚀 (@LBRYcom) November 28, 2022

When Musk requested Lbry in regards to the phrases they have been referring to, it stated, “Apple disallowed almost anything related to Covid, especially vaccines or human origins of the virus. We had to build a list of over 20 terms to not show results for, only on Apple devices. Apple also later rejected us because users included Pepe images in videos.” Musk expressed his shock and stated, “Secret suppression of free speech by Apple. Customers were never told. What the hell is going on here?”

Secret suppression of free speech by Apple. Customers have been by no means informed. What the hell is occurring right here?

— Elon Musk (@elonmusk) November 28, 2022

Musk expressed his dismay over the charge charged by Apple on in-app purchases, which at the moment stands at 30 per cent. Twitter is engaged on a worldwide rollout of Twitter subscriptions at $8. Apple would take a 30 per cent minimize from all such subscriptions each month. In a tweet, Musk stated, “Did you know Apple puts a secret 30% tax on everything you buy through their App Store.”

Did you recognize Apple places a secret 30% tax on the whole lot you purchase via their App Store? https://t.co/LGkPZ4EYcz

— Elon Musk (@elonmusk) November 28, 2022

In a now-deleted tweet, Musk hinted that he would go to battle with Apple moderately than pay them the hefty charge.