What will Apple do?
Apple has resisted similar attempts to pre-install government-mandated apps in the past, so is likely to do so again. That’s because the company understands that once you permit one government to install apps on devices, every government will do the same – and since these apps aren’t necessarily designed within Apple’s own privacy and security guidelines, they might be unsafe. This raises the specter of state surveillance being just one app install away.
Speaking to Reuters, Internet advocacy lawyer Mishi Choudhary said the demand “effectively removes user consent as a meaningful choice.”
It is worth notingthat while Apple will resist government attempts to chip away at the privacy and security of its platforms, the company remains subject to the law. That is why it may already have created a backdoor vulnerability in the iPhone to meet demands made by the rogue UK government, and it’s why in China it ensures iCloud data is stored on locally-based servers. Ultimately, and perhaps, sadly, if people want to oppose creeping state surveillance, they have to be willing to oppose it themselves in the political sphere, rather than relying on private companies to fight on their behalf. Apple, like anyone else, must act within the law, even when the law is foolish, dangerous, or misconstrued.
