U.S. Senators Urge Apple to Reconsider Decision Not to Testify in Upcoming App Store Hearing

Friday April 9, 2021 1:38 pm PDT by Juli Clover

Apple has decided not to testify in a U.S. Senate subcommittee hearing on antitrust issues related to mobile App Stores, and U.S. senators have called Apple's refusal "unacceptable," reports Reuters.

In a letter addressed to Apple CEO Tim Cook, senators Amy Klobuchar and Mike Lee urged Apple to reconsider the decision because a "full and fair examination" of competition issues requires Apple's participation.

The senators say that Apple has been aware of the upcoming April hearing for weeks and even held discussions with Senate staff members on who would testify on Apple's behalf, but then Apple "abruptly declared" that it would provide no witness to testify at all.

Apple is citing its upcoming trial against Epic Games as the reason for not providing a witness for the App Store hearing, but the Senate Judiciary Committee's Subcommittee on Competition Policy, Antitrust, and Consumer Rights is not happy with that excuse.

There is no specific date set for the hearing as of yet, but Google plans to participate. It will look at the power that Apple and Google have over the cost, distribution, and availability of mobile apps on iPhone and Android devices.

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Tags: App Store, Apple Antitrust

Top Rated Comments

WiseAJ

32 months ago

Just set the hearing after the Epic Games trial and maybe Apple will participate. They kinda busy right now taking out the trash.

Score: 24 Votes (Like | Disagree)

I7guy

I would assume this stance was made on the advice of Apples' attorneys.

jz0309

I think I can appreciate Apples response as there might be implications forthcoming that would influence the Epic trial... but I’m not a legal expert and I would assume that Tim Cook will respond to the letter with clarification

Score: 15 Votes (Like | Disagree)

Cosmosent

There is NO benefit to Apple participating.

And, there is NO real need for a Hearing.

ALL of the facts are known !

Congress just needs to move forward with the proposed New Laws !

BTW, "Public" Hearings with Congress participating are a known Waste of Time !

ALL most member of Congress want out of such Public Hearings is Ammo for their RE-election campaign TV commercials !

ONLY "Private" Hearings have ANY real chance of being productive !

jav6454

Waste of time, why not spend this time on something else? Like looking into why ISPs charge an arm and a leg for a half assed internet connection.

AT&T, Verizon, Comcrap and the likes have been milking the American people with their regional monopolies over network for years and I haven't seen on private hearing with tangible laws released. Yes, the FCC and its Net Neutrality helps, to an extent.

Score: 13 Votes (Like | Disagree)

IG88

What do you have to hide Apple?

Hearings like this are often full of political grandstanding, and can end up being mainly self serving for the politicians. There's no upside for Apple to participate.

Score: 9 Votes (Like | Disagree)

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