Apple’s Wrong Actions: Innovation Traded for Control

Apple has long been the darling of Silicon Valley—revered for sleek products, elegant design, and the ability to “think different.” But in recent years, the company’s polish has faded, and beneath the glossy surface lies a growing list of questionable actions that prioritize profit over principle, control over creativity, and image over integrity. This article explores the ways Apple has taken wrong turns—and why it matters for users, developers, and the future of technology.

1. App Store Abuse: The 30% Toll Booth
Apple’s App Store operates more like a fortress than a marketplace. Developers are forced to use Apple’s in-app payment system, paying a 15–30% commission. When companies like Epic Games pushed back, Apple responded with bans and litigation. Even when courts ordered Apple to allow links to alternative payment options, the company introduced obstructive compliance mechanisms that made the process convoluted and ineffective. Sources: - Epic Games v. Apple ruling – CNBC: https://www.cnbc.com/2021/09/10/epic-games-v-apple-judge-issues-permanent-injunction.html - Spotify criticizes Apple’s DMA compliance – The Verge: https://www.theverge.com/2024/1/26/24052056/spotify-apple-eu-dma-criticism

2. Repair Resistance: Anti-Ownership by Design
Apple designs devices that are nearly impossible for the average user to fix. Glued-in batteries, proprietary screws, and a war against third-party repair services ensure that consumers must either pay Apple’s high service fees or replace their devices prematurely. Its much-hyped Self Service Repair program is expensive and overly technical—hardly a meaningful concession. Sources: - Apple’s lobbying against right-to-repair – NYT: https://www.nytimes.com/2021/04/27/technology/right-to-repair-apple.html - iFixit teardown of Apple’s repair program: https://www.ifixit.com/News/62977/self-service-repair-program-apple-drops-the-ball

3. Supply Chain Shadows: Labor Violations Persist
Apple’s manufacturing partners like Foxconn and Pegatron have faced years of allegations involving unsafe working conditions, unpaid bonuses, and labor violations—including reports of child labor and excessive overtime. During China’s harsh COVID lockdowns, workers at Foxconn’s iPhone plant rioted—and Apple remained conspicuously silent. Sources: - Reuters on Foxconn labor protest: https://www.reuters.com/technology/foxconn-says-has-resolved-dispute-workers-iphone-plant-2022-11-24/ - Apple’s supplier report – 2023: https://www.apple.com/supplier-responsibility/pdf/Apple_SR_2023_Progress_Report.pdf

4. Privacy or Profits? Apple’s Double Standard
Apple markets itself as a privacy-first company. Its App Tracking Transparency (ATT) feature cracked down on third-party data collection. But behind the curtain, Apple ramped up its own ad network, collecting user behavior data inside Apple’s apps. In short, it restricted competitors—while taking their place. Sources: - Washington Post: Apple’s privacy pivot: https://www.washingtonpost.com/technology/2023/08/30/apple-ads-privacy/ - EFF: Apple’s new data strategy is profit-driven: https://www.eff.org/deeplinks/2022/12/apple-privacy-vs-profits

5. Censorship Complicity in China
In China, Apple has routinely removed apps at the government’s request—including VPNs, encrypted messaging platforms, and protest-related content. Apple also moved Chinese user data into state-run data centers, increasing the potential for surveillance. Sources: - NYT investigation: Apple’s compromises in China: https://www.nytimes.com/2021/05/17/technology/apple-china-censorship-data.html - Human Rights Watch: Apple aiding censorship: https://www.hrw.org/news/2022/07/07/apple-suppressing-freedom-expression-china

6. Environmental Greenwashing
Apple touts itself as eco-conscious—removing chargers from iPhone boxes and committing to carbon neutrality. But critics argue this is greenwashing. By forcing consumers to buy accessories separately, Apple increases packaging waste and profits. Its sealed hardware also accelerates e-waste due to planned obsolescence. Sources: - The Verge: Apple’s green image questioned: https://www.theverge.com/2020/10/14/21516595/apple-environment-iphone-12-charger-earpods-carbon-footprint - Bloomberg: EU probes Apple’s environmental claims: https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2024-03-15/apple-green-claims-under-eu-review

Final Thoughts: A Brand at a Moral Crossroads
Apple is no longer just a tech company—it’s a cultural force. And with that power comes responsibility. Instead of leading the industry toward fairness, transparency, and openness, Apple often chooses control, silence, and self-interest. If Apple wants to reclaim its image as a force for good, it must stop treating ethics as a branding tool and start making genuine structural changes. Until then, behind every polished product launch lies an unsettling truth: Apple isn’t just thinking different anymore—it’s acting indifferent.