Apple’s Sideloading
Apple is working on something called ‘sideloading’ for the iPhone.
This means that phone users will be able to install apps from sources other than Apple’s App Store.
At the moment, that will be any country in the EU.
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Apple has already deployed other location-based restrictions.
Apple also restricts some features based on your iPhone’s language controls.
For another, the countryd framework could very easily be exploited by governments to ensure compliance.
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Location-Based Feature Control
Determining your location so that enforce laws is harder than it seems.
But as we saw recently with Montana’s TikTok ban, it can be hard to enforce.
For example, if an app is banned in Montana, how can Apple or Google enforce that?
Is it only valid if the user’s account was registered while in the state?
Or to a Montana address?
What about when they leave Montana?
Apple’s countryd answers these questions.
You could just switch off TikTok inside the state.
And this obviously applies to any other local law.
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“Location-based feature control can enhance privacy and security.
For example, enforcing camera shutter sounds in Japan can minimize the risk of unauthorized photography.
Disabling FaceTime in the UAE ensures compliance with local communication restrictions.
This raises questions about who should be enforcing laws.
On the one hand, it’s good that big tech is finally taking local laws seriously.
On the other hand, is it a phone vendor’s business how I use my phone?
And what about the world outside of phones?
Perhaps cars could automatically comply with speed limits inside cities?
The possible scenarios for this kind of technology are endless.
