Twitter CEO Elon Musk intimated on Monday that he might be getting ready to “go to war” with Apple, which has mostly suspended advertising on Twitter and threatened to oust the social media network from its App Store.
In a series of tweets, Musk criticized Apple and its CEO, Tim Cook, while also bringing up the issue of censorship.
Apple’s Twitter advertising has been drastically cut back. They clearly dislike the concept of free speech in the USA. Query Musk. I tweeted at Tim Cook, “What the heck is going on?”
Musk went on to say that Apple had “threatened to withdraw” Twitter from its App Store without providing an explanation.
Next, Musk asked, “Apple should reveal any censoring acts it has undertaken that affect customers?” on Twitter. In the past, he has relied on such surveys to guide his decision-making at the company.
Musk mentioned one person who said their account was removed by Apple and asked, “Who else has Apple censored?”
When asked about his prior claims, Musk said, “Did you know Apple slaps a secret 30% tax on whatever you buy through their App Store?”
During the month of May, Musk made the statement that buying from an Apple store was the same as paying a 30% tax online.
Next, he remarked, “That’s not cool.” It’s more than ten times as much as it should be.
Musk also joked that he’d rather “Go to War” with Apple than “Pay 30%.”
In a 2018 presentation in New York City, Cook argued that digital firms had a moral obligation to delete some accounts and content from social media and other online services, going so far as to term doing otherwise a “sin.”
Cook said, “We just have one message for you: You have no place on our platforms,” in response to a question about those who encourage violence, division, and hatred. You don’t belong here.
If we can’t even agree on the most fundamental of moral concepts, Cook said, we’re in deep trouble. The ability to tell right from wrong and apply one’s own morality is, in my opinion, the most priceless gift we’ve been given. To abandon that responsibility in a time of crisis is a terrible sin.
When Twitter was removed from the iOS and Android app stores, Musk threatened to start making smartphones on Friday.
If Apple and Google remove Twitter from their app stores, Elon Musk will make his own smartphone, the political commentator Liz Wheeler suggested.
Half of the country, to paraphrase what she said, “would cheerfully dump the biased, spying iPhone & Android.” Surely, if he can build rockets that can reach Mars, he can assemble a basic smartphone.
Musk said, “Yes, I will develop another phone,” indicating that he sees no other way out.