Cannabis CTO: Is Apple's privacy stance anti-competitive?

(Warning - this post isn't cannabis-related.)#

Apple made some changes to iOS recently that are making it a lot harder for apps that rely on tracking data to make as much money from advertising as they used to. At least we are hearing a lot of complaints from the companies that make those apps, and warnings that their profits are being affected.#

I know Apple has more than one reason for doing this. I believe the basic story about privacy being a way that Apple can differentiate itself, because it doesn't make much money from advertising and doesn't need all this tracking stuff the way other companies do.#

I was wondering, though: Apple has a ton of cash. If they do something that hurts everyone, a bunch of companies that might some day grow up to eat Apple's lunch will be starved of profits and will be hurt far more than Apple could possibly be by the move.#

It's kind of like when a big company (Amazon for example) keeps prices really low and forgoes profits until all its competitors are dead.#