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Comment by tempnow987 | Hacker News Reader

Competition law has morphed so it's all about making sure BUSINESSES including absolute scum can get into walled gardens and make their money.

The question of consumer benefit / preference etc has gone.

Don't like apple's walled garden? Get an android phone!

The reality is at least for some segment of the market, having apple throwing it weight around with these "wonderful" providers who would NEVER thing of doing a subscription dark pattern (haha - dating apps have a horrible history here) is appreciated? Desired?

My question - the internet is subject to regulation, why don't these regulators focus on ANY of the absolute CRAP on the internet. Fake news stories, fake tech support, money scammers etc etc. Instead we are stuck with folks like scambaiters doing their thing (for free) and our billion dollar competition etc agencies sit on their butts.

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> Don't like apple's walled garden? Get an android phone!

Great for customers who don’t like it, not so useful if the question is “does Apple’s walled garden prevent the creation of businesses that consumers would like to do business with if only they had the opportunity”.

I don’t claim to know enough about any marketplace or business landscape to answer the latter question, but that’s what is being claimed here.

> "does Apple’s walled garden prevent the creation of businesses that consumers would like to do business with if only they had the opportunity"

They already do prevent certain businesses from operating in the App Store anyway, irrespective of the regulatory scrutiny here. An example is present in Apple's review guidelines, where they specifically ban any apps that encourage consumption of tobacco products or vaping. See https://developer.apple.com/app-store/review/guidelines/

> 1.4.3 Apps that encourage consumption of tobacco and vape products, illegal drugs, or excessive amounts of alcohol are not permitted on the App Store.

The same goes with all apps that feature pornography or facilitate prostitution and I'm sure many adult-entertainment businesses would love the opportunity to do business in the App Store. I'm not saying Apple should or shouldn't allow those types of businesses on the app store, mind you, but there's no law saying Apple must allow even dating apps on the App Store; if Apple decided they could probably ban dating apps altogether.

Apple doesn't seem to take issue with getting children addicted to gambling as long as they get their 30% cut, I don't think we can rely on them as our moral touchstone in protecting us from evil businesses.

I don't think you've used the web enough or other alternatives enough :)

Signing up for a service online generally is fraught with unconcealable patterns.

The web is filled with scams and rip-offs designed by many of the same folks calling for apple to open up. Seriously, many of the alliance or whatever have very unsavory histories.

What's your stance on regulation of crypto companies? People don't have to invest in crypto, they can do all kinds of other things with it.

Good question. Plenty of opportunity -> starting with tons of low hanging fruit. There are tons of fake wallets, fake websites, folks exit scamming etc. All this should be prosecuted criminally.

Secondly, you shouldn't be able to lie in a commercial context. Ignore the crypto itself. You claim you are 100% backed by US dollars? Someone should show up, check, and then bust you totally if needed.

BTW - these laws apply in the real world. I sell you a bridge I don't own but claim I do, I should be busted.

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