Apple has written to Congress to refute claims that its fears about the risks of sideloading software into phones are exaggerated.
Sideloading, or installing programmes without visiting an app store, is one of the innovations that lawmakers believe would open up the app industry. Congress is presently debating legislation aimed at reining in Apple and Google’s app stores, which would oblige firms to enable sideloading.
Apple has maintained that such a method would be a security issue since it maintains strict control over the programmes in the store to keep consumers safe.
“There is abundant data demonstrating that third-party app shops are a critical infection vector on platforms that enable such stores,” Apple wrote in a letter seen by Reuters.
It was submitted to Senate Judiciary Committee Chair Dick Durbin, top Republican Chuck Grassley, and antitrust subcommittee Chair Amy Klobuchar, as well as top Republican Mike Lee.
The measure was approved by the committee in early February.
The bill would also prevent firms from mandating app providers to use their payment system and penalise applications that provide alternative rates or terms through another app store or payment system.
The biggest technological giants, like Facebook and Amazon.com, have come under fire in Congress for allegedly abusing their disproportionate market dominance.
A slew of laws aiming at reining them in have been introduced, but none have yet become law.