Apple has always maintained that it had blocked sideloading on iOS to prevent users from installing malware-laden apps on their iPhones. But many iPhone owners believe that if they are spending their own money to buy an iPhone, it is up to them-not Apple-to decide whether they should be allowed to take the risk and sideload apps on their iPhones.
Japan wants to follow the EU and force Apple into allowing iPhone users to sideload apps from third-party app storefronts
Japan is also reportedly planning to follow the DMA by forcing companies like Apple to allow its customers to use alternative app storefronts and in-app payment platforms. This might also require Apple to allow third-party mobile payment platforms to secure a place inside the Apple Wallet app in Japan where it can be used for contactless payments. And the Commission is also believed to be looking to follow a DMA regulation that forces Apple to allow EU iPhone owners to use mobile browsers that do not use the WebKit browser engine created by Apple.
As if a fine equal to 20% of a company’s global sales isn’t high enough, firms that don’t learn their lesson and become repeat offenders could face a fine by Japanese regulators totaling as much as 30% of global revenue. To put this in perspective, should Apple be hit by such a fine it would have to cough up nearly $115 billion.
