Tim Cook and Sundar Pichai are cowards
3 minute readPublished: Friday, January 9, 2026 at 9:24 pm
Tech Giants Face Scrutiny Over App Store Policies
Recent developments have sparked criticism of Apple and Google regarding their app store policies, specifically concerning the social media platform X. The crux of the issue lies in the alleged failure of both tech giants to remove X from their respective app stores, despite the platform's users reportedly generating and distributing deepfake images of women and children.
The author highlights specific developer guidelines from Apple and Google, which explicitly prohibit content that is offensive, insensitive, or that facilitates the exploitation or abuse of children. The author argues that X's content violates these guidelines, yet the platform remains available on both app stores.
The author suggests that the inaction of Apple CEO Tim Cook and Google CEO Sundar Pichai stems from a fear of upsetting Elon Musk, the owner of X, and the broader right-wing media ecosystem. The author points to Apple's dependence on the Chinese market and Google's vulnerability to political pressure, particularly from figures like Donald Trump, as contributing factors. The author implies that both companies have prioritized their own interests over their stated principles and the safety of their users.
The author draws parallels to past instances where Apple and Google have taken action against other platforms for similar violations, such as the removal of Tumblr from the App Store. The author also references the Epic v. Apple antitrust trial, where Apple emphasized its control over the App Store to protect users from unsafe content. The author views this as hypocritical, given the current situation with X.
The author concludes by expressing outrage at the perceived double standard and questioning the values of Apple and Google, suggesting that their primary concern is shareholder value rather than user safety or ethical conduct.
BNN's Perspective: This situation presents a complex challenge for tech companies. While the concerns raised about the content on X are valid and warrant serious consideration, the decision to remove an app from an app store is not always straightforward. Balancing freedom of expression with the need to protect users, especially children, is a delicate act. It's crucial for Apple and Google to clearly define and consistently enforce their policies, while also remaining mindful of the potential for censorship and the importance of open dialogue.
Keywords: Apple, Google, X, Elon Musk, App Store, Deepfake, Child Exploitation, Tim Cook, Sundar Pichai, Content Moderation, Developer Guidelines, Censorship, Antitrust, Privacy, Ethics, Social Media.