Apple uses its market power to enforce rules not in effect in the broader internet in their little world. That is everything from clear disclosures of subscription terms, easy cancellation of apps, and lots more.
Other businesses absolutely hate this (ignoring the fact that they themselves poisoned the well outside of apple with endless scummy behaviors). So they are trying to stop apple from being able to do this. Ie, they want to be able to get payment flows and stuff off apple.
Apple's behavior per the DoJ is supposedly causing "consumer harm" - but the reality is DOJ takes a totally blind eye on consumer harm unless that harm also much more directly hits the bottom line of other billion dollar businesses with much worse behavior (ie, online dating folks / gaming folks etc). Then it's all hands on deck.
What's left is basically folks online doing things like scam baiting to even start to hit actual horribly destructive fraud rings online. And they barely make an impact as this is really the territory the govt should be active in.
Yes and this is the same government that HN users are cheerleading to protect their privacy. I am much more concerned about government overreach than any private company.
