Image source: Shack News
Elon Musk says that Apple is threatening to remove Twitter from its iOS app store, which could affect Twitter’s business.
His claims came on Monday.
If Apple goes through with its plan, it would be devastating for Elon Musk’s recent acquisition.
The tweets
On Monday, Elon Musk posted several tweets against Apple and its CEO over the alleged move that could ruin Twitter’s business.
“Apple has also threatened to withhold Twitter from its App Store, but won’t tell us why,” Musk tweeted.
In another, the Twitter owner said Apple has stopped advertising on the platform.
“Do they hate free speech in America,” he asked, referencing his desire to bolster his idea of free speech on Twitter.
“What’s going on here [Apple CEO Tim Cook]?”
Elon Musk also slammed Apple’s size, claiming the tech giant engages in “censorship.”
He then blasted the 30% transaction fee Apple charges major app developers to get their apps listed for the app store.
Read also: Break-ins plague Portland, one store shuts down
Relationship
Elon Musk’s tweets revealed more about his relationship with the tech giant.
Before acquiring the social media platform, Musk said when Tesla encountered problems, he thought about selling the company to Apple.
However, Cook reportedly refused to meet or entertain him.
Removal
Removing Twitter from the Apple App Store (or even from Google) would disrupt how Twitter is operating.
The social media platform is already struggling after losing advertisers after the acquisition.
Additionally, the company is trying to increase its profits through its subscription business.
Apple has previously shown a willingness to remove apps from its App Store due to concerns about harmful content or attempts to circumvent Apple’s cuts on purchases and subscriptions.
For example, Apple removed Parler in January 2021.
Parler was a popular app among conservatives and the far right.
Apple removed it after the Capitol attack from concerns about the platform’s ability to detect and moderate hate speech.
However, Parler returned to the App Store after three months after an update to its content moderation procedures.
Rad also: Elon Musk debunks report on SBF Twitter investment
Apple
Tim Cook had an interview with CBS earlier this month.
He was asked if Twitter could change that would lead Apple to remove the app from the App Store.
“They say that they’re going to continue to moderate and so… I count on them to do that,” said Cook.
“Because I don’t think that anybody really wants hate speech on their platform. So I’m counting on them to continue to do that.”
The former head of trust and safety at Twitter, Yoel Roth, hinted that the company has received calls from App Store moderators since the Musk acquisition.
Roth said Twitter’s failure to follow Google’s and Apple’s App Store rules could be disastrous.
Meanwhile, Phil Schiller, head of Apple’s App Store, deleted his Twitter account last weekend.
While the relationship between Apple and Twitter is unclear, the tech giant recently shared Black Friday announcements on social media.
Additionally, due to the economic downturn, many companies have recently reduced their digital ad spending.
Twitter is speculated to represent a small portion of Apple’s advertising budget.
Apple’s impact could be more noticeable, however, especially if Musk manages to shift his core business to subscription revenue and potentially pay Apple a 30% cut.
Reference:
Elon Musk claims Apple has ‘threatened to withhold’ Twitter from its app store
