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U.S. lawmakers have concerns about Apple-Alibaba deal
TechCrunchยท2025-05-18 14:35

Core Viewpoint - The Trump administration and congressional officials are investigating a deal between Apple and Alibaba that would integrate Alibaba's AI features into iPhones sold in China, raising concerns about data sharing and regulatory commitments [1][2]. Group 1: Government Scrutiny - White House officials and members of the House Select Committee on China have directly questioned Apple executives regarding the deal, focusing on data sharing with Alibaba and commitments to Chinese regulators [2]. - Apple executives reportedly struggled to provide answers to most of the inquiries posed by government officials [2]. Group 2: Concerns Raised - Representative Raja Krishnamoorthi characterized Alibaba as a key player in the Chinese Communist Party's military-civil fusion strategy, expressing alarm over Apple's lack of transparency regarding the agreement [3]. - The deal has only been publicly confirmed by Alibaba, with Apple remaining silent on the matter, highlighting the challenges posed by U.S.-China tensions for Apple's business operations [3].