PhantomALERT v Apple Inc. A Fight To Stop BigTech Censorship
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Please read our complaint PhantomALERT v Apple Inc.
Facebook JUST admited to censoring Covid-19 information. What about Apple’s & Google’s Covid-19 app CENSORSHIP?
In early 2020 Apple & Google “ALLEGEDLY” banned/censored Covid-19 apps, then turned around & jointly launched competing Covid-19 apps. BigTech CENSORSHIP is wrong. UNFAIR competition is wrong! It harms competition, innovation, developers and users.
Checkout PhantomALERT v Apple, Inc. ANTITRUST lawsuit.
Support PhantomALERT v Apple, Inc. antitrust lawsuit!
A fight to FREE the AppStore and Stop BigTech CENSORSHIP! Support the underdog!
We are rallying all app developers, content creators, influencers, and social media enthusiasts to stand with us in supporting a small, innovative tech company, PhantomALERT, as we take on tech giant Apple in a fight for justice.
Censorship is fundamentally wrong, and it's time to take a stand. We urge you to contribute to our cause.
MARCH 2020
If you believe, as we do, that the App Store should be a platform for competition, innovation, and free expression, then join us at PhantomALERT/Open App Markets Act Org. We are a coalition of app developers, users, entrepreneurs, and legal experts advocating for freedom of choice for developers and consumers alike, and for a level playing field for businesses.
Your donation to the PhantomALERT legal fund will support our efforts to challenge Apple's monopolistic control of the app ecosystem and to ensure that all voices can be heard.
Hate Traffic Tickets, Speed Traps, Speed Cameras, Dangerous Roads, Flooded Roads, Fire On the Road, Tornado near you? There is an App for that. Get PhantomALERT.
Recently, before the Department of Justice took action against Apple, PhantomALERT filed a complaint for antitrust violations. Apple's decision to ban our Covid-19 symptom reporting, tracking, and mapping app during the pandemic was not only anti-innovation but also anticompetitive.
We were among the first to develop a Covid-19 app, aimed at combating the pandemic, only to be unfairly blocked by Apple and Google. This is not just about our company; it's about the principle of standing up against censorship and ensuring that vital innovations are not stifled.
What did Apple and Google BANN? Let us show you:
BANNED BY APPLE!
BANNED BY GOOGLE!
Take a look at Apple's competing Covid-19 app.
Apple COVID-19 APP launched after PhantomALERT and other were BANNED! SO UNFAIR
Together, let's fight for a more open and equitable app ecosystem. Join us in making a difference.
Watch Our Story
https://www.bloomberglaw.com/public/desktop/document/PHANTOMALERTvAPPLEINCDocketNo124cv00786DDCMar182024CourtDocket
Antitrust Allegations against Apple Inc.:
A Case Study on PhantomALERT
Take a look. If you agree... support us. Donate!
Funds will be used to pay for legal fees and operations
I. Introduction
This case delves into the alleged injustices involving Apple Inc. and Google Inc. against Yoseph Seyoum, an independent app developer, and his company, PhantomALERT Inc. The heart of the matter lies in Seyoum's attempt to provide crucial biostatistical and epidemiological data to federal agencies, global health authorities, scientists, doctors, and the public during the early stages of the COVID-19 pandemic. However, his efforts were obstructed when both Apple and Google imposed restrictions on the publication of Seyoum's re-tooled app, PhantomALERT Covid-19 mapping and tracking app. These restrictions not only had a severe economic impact but also raised significant concerns about the suppression of valuable data in the midst of a global health crisis.
User-generated biostatistical and epidemiological data played a pivotal role during the early days of the pandemic. This data could have been a linchpin in the fight against the rapidly spreading virus, had it not been for the anti-competitive practices of Apple and Google.
Early Detection of COVID-19 Outbreaks: User-generated data, including self-reported symptoms and health information collected through apps, enabled the early detection of potential COVID-19 outbreaks and emerging symptoms such as the loss of smell and taste. 1This data offered critical insights into the virus's spread before official testing and reporting mechanisms were fully operational.
Real-Time Monitoring and Infection Hotspots: Real-time user-generated data allowed health authorities to monitor the virus's progression at local, national, and global levels. This information helped identify areas with high infection rates and implement containment measures promptly.
Optimized Resource Allocation: Analyzing Covid-19 user-generated data enabled health organizations to allocate resources more effectively. For example, data on reported symptoms and locations could help pinpoint areas in need of additional medical supplies, testing, quarantine or healthcare personnel.
Economic damage expert assumptions are based on reviewing market data, including app downloads, in app sells, advertising revenue, data and software licensing revenue streams. The economic harm experienced by Seyoum's PhantomALERT is a direct result of Apple's and Google’s actions, impacting society, the developer, potential users, competition and innovation.
VII. Market Analysis
Examining the competitive dynamics within the app marketplace reveals that Apple's actions extended to a critical sector: COVID-19 tracking, mapping and containment apps. This segment of the app market gained importance due to the severity of the public health crisis. By restricting the entry of qualified, experienced and independent developers like Seyoum's PhantomALERT, Apple's and Google's actions limited the diversity and innovation that smaller players bring to the tech ecosystem.
The potential long-term effects of tech giants stifling innovation from smaller developers within the tech industry are significant. While large companies like Apple and Google possess substantial market power, hindering the entry of smaller innovators can hamper industry and American free market system. Independent developers have often been the source of disruptive and groundbreaking ideas that drive technological progress. When their entry is obstructed, it hinders competition, innovation and limits consumer choice, which may eventually lead to stagnation within the tech industry.
Apple's and Google's actions raise questions about whether they align with the principles of fair competition in the tech sector. Fair competition implies a level playing field where all participants have an equal opportunity to compete based on the quality and relevance of their products and services. The actions of tech giants, when perceived as stifling smaller competitors, deviate from these principles and suggest a concentration of power and resources, potentially leading to an anti-competitive environment.
Exploring global or regional variations in the regulation and competition within app marketplaces is essential. While this case centers on U.S. app marketplaces, examining how other countries or regions regulate and encourage competition within their app ecosystems could provide valuable insights. For instance, European Union regulations have been more stringent in some areas related to competition and privacy. A comparative analysis could highlight the unique dynamics and challenges faced by tech companies worldwide and offer potential solutions or approaches to fostering fairer competition in the industry.
VIII. Potential Solutions
The question arises: what can be done to resolve this issue and prevent similar incidents in the future, considering the potential consequences for both the tech industry and public health efforts?
One avenue toward resolution involves providing redress for Seyoum, PhantomALERT, and other independent developers who encounter similar challenges. By rectifying the alleged injustices, we not only acknowledge the importance of fostering a diverse and innovative tech ecosystem but also send a clear message that restrictive practices that stifle competition and innovation will not be tolerated.
In addition to individual redress, the introduction of regulatory changes aimed at ensuring a level playing field in app marketplaces should be considered. Such regulations can focus on equitable access for developers, irrespective of their size, to ensure that tech giants do not have unchecked power to hinder competition and suppress innovation. This could involve revisiting existing antitrust laws and adapting them to the unique dynamics of the tech industry.
By weaving these potential solutions together, we can create a path forward that not only addresses the immediate concerns of Seyoum, PhantomALERT, and independent developers but also sets a precedent for ensuring the health and vitality of the tech industry and its pivotal role in public health efforts in the future.
IX. Conclusion
In conclusion, the case of PhantomALERT against Apple and Google raises significant antitrust concerns and breach of contract issues within the tech industry. The actions taken by these tech giants have had far-reaching consequences, both economically and societally. It is imperative to address these concerns, reaffirming the principles of fair competition and innovation that underpin the tech industry
Guess who else agrees with PhantomALERT. The Department of Justice. Take a look.
Apple faces years of distractions after DOJ antitrust suit
Organizer
Phantom ALERT
Organizer
Washington D.C., DC