Apple's App Store top boss Matt Fischer to leave tech company in response to major regulatory shake-up
FP Staff • August 22, 2024, 16:56:59 IST
Fischer’s departure comes at a pivotal time for Apple as it prepares to restructure the App Store team. The company plans to split the team into two divisions: one will continue to manage Apple’s own App Store, while also looking for alternative app distribution channels
Fischer's exit and the ensuing reorganization mark a significant moment for
Apple as it navigates the evolving landscape of app distribution and regulatory
compliance. Image Credit: Reuters
Apple’s App Store boss, Matt Fischer, is set to leave the company as Apple braces for significant changes in response to global regulatory pressures. Fischer, who has overseen the App Store since 2010, announced his decision to step down in the coming months, marking the end of his 21-year tenure at the tech giant.
Fischer’s departure comes at a pivotal time for Apple as it prepares to restructure the App Store team. The company plans to split the team into two divisions: one will continue to manage Apple’s own App Store, while the other will focus on overseeing alternative app distribution channels. This move is seen as a direct response to increasing scrutiny and regulatory demands worldwide, particularly concerning Apple’s tightly controlled App Store ecosystem.
In an email to his team, Fischer expressed that this decision had been on his mind for a while and that the current timing felt right, especially as the company reorganizes to tackle new challenges and opportunities. He emphasized his confidence in the leaders who will take over after his departure.
Carson Oliver, a senior director at Apple, will take over Fischer’s role, leading the App Store team. Meanwhile, Ann Thai, currently a director of App Store features, will lead the new team focused on alternative app distribution.
Apple has been under increasing pressure from regulators and authorities worldwide, who have criticized its App Store practices as anticompetitive. The company has faced numerous investigations and legal challenges over its “walled garden” approach, which limits app distribution to the App Store and imposes strict rules on developers.
In response to European Union regulations, Apple has already taken steps to allow developers in Europe to launch third-party app stores, signaling a significant shift in its long-standing practices. However, Apple Fellow Phil Schiller has previously warned that third-party app stores could pose safety and security risks for iPhone users, reflecting the company’s concerns about opening up its ecosystem.
Fischer’s exit and the ensuing reorganization mark a significant moment for Apple as it navigates the evolving landscape of app distribution and regulatory compliance.
Link: firstpost.com
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ZDR's Take: If this change brings sanity and stronger security to Apple's App Stores, I'm all for it. The number of worthless garbage apps and data stealing apps in those stores is a black mark for Apple in consumer protection and customer service.
The stores have many poor quality, cheap apps with little value in them, especially for iOS/iPadOS because . It's clear they do very little to no vetting for quality or usefulness of them. The cynic in me says Apple doesn't care because they take their 30% cut of sales anyway, but what about the free apps that simply steal your data, often shuttling it to Chinese servers?
As an example, some articles from earlier this year highlighted some scammy apps on the Mac App Store and Apple's slow response to removing them. I believe some are still there. Why would Apple allow any developer back into their stores that was caught doing these things? Greed and apathy are the only reasons I can think of.
I hope Apple's new App Store boss focuses more on these issues, it shouldn't take security researchers and the Apple press corps to bring these problems to light every time and force Apple's hand to act. |
