Rachel Lang
Elon Musk has come out guns blazing against Apple and accused the company of attempting to pull Twitter from the App Store.
In a string of tweets, the billionaire had a simple 'yes' to a fellow social media user who asked if Apple was threatening Twitter's presence on the App Store.
Musk, who took over Twitter in a deal valued at $44 billion (AUD$62 billion, £33.3 billion) only last month, made the accusations on - you guessed it - Twitter.
"Apple has also threatened to withhold Twitter from its App Store, but won’t tell us why," Musk said on the social media platform.
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He added: "Apple has mostly stopped advertising on Twitter. Do they hate free speech in America?"
Apple has also threatened to withhold Twitter from its App Store, but won’t tell us why
— Elon Musk (@elonmusk) November 28, 2022
Apple has mostly stopped advertising on Twitter. Do they hate free speech in America?
— Elon Musk (@elonmusk) November 28, 2022
Musk then went one step further and pushed for an answer from Apple Chief Executive Officer Tim Cook directly.
The social media mogul tagged the Apple bigwig and asked: "What's going on here?"
The Apple CEO did not respond to the tweet, nor has Apple made a public statement to address Musk's queries.
Musk has lashed out at Twitter in the past for its perceived anti-democratic rules, stating that the company has failed to keep 'free speech principles'.
It seems as if Musk’s idea of free speech is that people should be able to say anything that isn’t illegal.
Apple, on the other hand, has pages and pages of guidelines that must be adhered to if apps are to remain on their App Store.
Those guidelines are rooted in the idea of 'safety', as Apple sees it.
What’s going on here @tim_cook?
— Elon Musk (@elonmusk) November 28, 2022
The first page reads: "When people install an app from the App Store, they want to feel confident that it's safe to do so — that the app doesn't contain upsetting or offensive content."
Musk himself has complained recently about Apple’s fees that Twitter has to pay, calling them essentially a 'hidden 30 percent tax on the internet'.
The tense situation between him and Apple has reached such a point that he said he would literally invent a new smartphone and App Store.
He tweeted over the weekend: "I certainly hope it does not come to that, but, yes, if there is no other choice, I will make an alternative phone."
It must be nice to have the kind of money to make these sweeping proclamations.
Apple has been approached by UNILAD for comment.