The U.S. Department of Justice is reportedly investigating Apple's "Sign in With Apple" single sign-on feature as part of a broader antitrust investigation after some developers complained.
After a new report by The Information, antitrust watchdogs are investigating whether the "Sign in With Apple" button and other App Store policies make it harder for users to switch to a competing device manufacturer. Apple introduced the "Sign in with Apple" feature as a privacy-friendly option in iOS 13, allowing users to create an account for an app without sharing their email address with developers. As a reminder, apps that rely on single sign-on features from Facebook, Google, and Co. are required to also use "Sign in with Apple" according to App Store guidelines. This rule has reportedly made some App Store developers unhappy. Complaints filed by developers in 2020 are now being investigated by antitrust authorities, the anonymous source told The Information.
“Sign in with Apple”: A privacy-friendly alternative
The investigation appears to be broader, however. The agency is looking into Apple's control over its app marketplace, the commission it charges on app and in-app purchases, and whether it restricts third-party apps' access to systems like location services. An Apple spokesperson declined to comment to The Information, but said Apple's sign-in service is designed to give users a privacy-friendly alternative to existing sign-in options. The Justice Department has not yet decided whether to file a lawsuit against Apple. Sources said that decision could take months. Apple first came under the Justice Department's scrutiny in June 2020 after developers complained about antitrust violations. (Photo by Konstantin Savusia / Bigstockphoto)
