iOS 17 to Support App Sideloading to Comply With European Regulations

[MacRumors]

Apple in iOS 17 will for the first time allow iPhone users to download apps hosted outside of its official App Store, according to Bloomberg's Mark Gurman.

Otherwise known as sideloading, the change would allow customers to download apps without needing to use the App Store, which would mean developers wouldn't need to pay Apple's 15 to 30 percent fees.

The European Union's Digital Markets Act (DMA), which went into effect on November 1, 2022, requires "gatekeeper" companies to open up their services and platforms to other companies and developers.

The DMA will have a big impact on Apple's platforms, and it could result in Apple making major changes to the ‌App Store‌, Messages, FaceTime, Siri, and more. Apple is planning to implement sideloading support to comply with the new European regulations by next year, according to Gurman.

Apple has claimed that sideloading will "undermine the privacy and security protections" that iPhone users rely on, leaving people vulnerable to malware, scams, data tracking, and other issues. However, Apple must comply with the DMA or it risks fines of as much as 20 percent of its global revenue if the EU laws are violated.

In a December 2022 report Gurman said Apple was considering implementing security requirements such as verification, a process that it could charge a fee for in lieu of collecting money from app sales. Apple has a verification system on Mac that allows users to be safe while giving them access to apps outside of the Mac App Store.

If other countries introduce similar legislation, alternate app stores could expand beyond the European Union. The United States, for example, is considering legislation that would require Apple to allow sideloading.

Article Link: iOS 17 to Support App Sideloading to Comply With European Regulations

 

[bivalvegruff]

Perfect, then we can sideload apps that don’t comply with EU:s total surveillance system, “Chat control.”

 

[Kylo83]

So in the uk we left the eu so would the uk get sideloading

 

[tann]

This would be a fantastic step forward.

 

[Sciomar]

Sideload as many apps that can profit off your life choices and social media interactions. The one upside I can see is to be able to sideload an AI that'll work better than Siri.

 

[scheinderrob]

about time apple is dragged screaming and kicking into sane regulations. keep the regulations coming!

 

[Abazigal]

The question isn't whether Apple will implement side-loading, but how. We know Apple has been fighting this for the longest time, and you can be sure that sideloading on iOS will come with enough caveats and asterisks that the process is not going to be as straightforward as some might expect.

 

[JM]

verification, a process that it could charge a fee for in lieu of collecting money from app sales. Apple has a verification system on Mac that allows users to be safe while giving them access to apps outside of the Mac App Store

Yeah… 😒 until Epic whines that the verification fee is anti-competitive and unfair.

 

[cableguy84]

I won’t be sideloading anything onto my iPhone

 

[TwoBytes]

Sideload as many apps that can profit off your life choices and social media interactions. The one upside I can see is to be able to sideload an AI that'll work better than Siri.

Side load personal assistant.
General>Settings>change Siri to GPT

 

[Kiwamu]

While I like the choice, I will prefer the AppStore and probably apart from some outlier we will find a lot of Apps there. The convenience for the customer, especially when it comes to the aftercare (i.e. App updates) will let the majority shrug.

Those that have an appetite and usecase for sideloading will be happy, and so will the average user.

 

[smythey]

Wow - this is huge. Bring it on.

 

[Picklefoot]

I hate the EU but they’ve managed to strong arm Apple into allowing emulators to be sideloaded onto iOS 17… and I find that funny.

Of course, there’s probably a catch to all this.

 

[jmh600cbr]

Finally some real news! This will be interesting.

 

[SnarkyBear]

We have been able to "side load" on the Mac system since forever, and it has been a blessing as I have been able to download apps that q) more complete than their App Store versions, b) download apps that compete directly with Apple's apps, and c) down load apps whose cost 100% goes to the developers. One has to be a little more careful, but then Apple hasn't been that good at protecting us from bad players in the iOS App Store. (It's always been more about protecting Apple's profits than protecting the consumer)

It's about choice, folks. If you want the walled garden you are free to stick with the App Store. But I for one look forward to the expanded choices soon to become available.

 

[BvizioN]

about time apple is dragged screaming and kicking into sane regulations. keep the regulations coming!

Oh don't you worry. Apple will make sure it will do it on Apple way, These EU bureaucrats are absolute fools.

 

[DesiMunda]

then apple should allow jail break too.

 

[Realityck]

The question isn't whether Apple will implement side-loading, but how. We know Apple has been fighting this for the longest time, and you can be sure that sideloading on iOS will come with enough caveats and asterisks that the process is not going to be as straightforward as some might expect.

Exactly talking this up is of course positive, but the question is “how“ as you mentione? it also pertains to iPadOS.

 

[magicvash]

This is great right up until companies refuse to offer App Store version of their software and force users to sideload. I can see Meta doing this and bringing along spyware and user tracking that they were forced to eliminate due to apple’s tracking bans

 

[RandomTox]

Good news! No more Uncle's Sam tax on everything.

 

[coffeemilktea]

Apple has claimed that sideloading will "undermine the privacy and security protections" that iPhone users rely on, leaving people vulnerable to malware, scams, data tracking, and other issues.

Seems a little dramatic considering that sideloading has existed on Android since day 1 and yet, somehow, most people with Android phones aren't complaining about suffering from endless malware. 😅

 

[RandomTox]

This is great right up until companies refuse to offer App Store version of their software and force users to sideload. I can see Meta doing this and bringing along spyware and user tracking that they were forced to eliminate due to apple’s tracking bans

Don't worry! There is enough Apple's spyware as it is now.

 

[philcourage]

This would actually be a big feature.

 

[RandomTox]

We have been able to "side load" on the Mac system since forever, and it has been a blessing as I have been able to download apps that q) more complete than their App Store versions, b) download apps that compete directly with Apple's apps, and c) down load apps whose cost 100% goes to the developers. One has to be a little more careful, but then Apple hasn't been that good at protecting us from bad players in the iOS App Store. (It's always been more about protecting Apple's profits than protecting the consumer)

It's about choice, folks. If you want the walled garden you are free to stick with the App Store. But I for one look forward to the expanded choices soon to become available.

Everything is about Apple's profit! They just package as a benefit to consumers and naive fanboys swallow.

 

[RandomTox]

I won’t be sideloading anything onto my iPhone

Never say never