How worried should Apple be about Trump as President?

Donald Trump has won the race for the Presidency of the United States.

As the world wakes up and digests the news there will be numerous questions as to what this now means.

For the tech sector the future is unclear as Trump has remained quiet on revealing too many details as to what his actual policies will be.

However, due to Trump’s frequent social commentary on social media and numerous statements made during the presidential campaign we can make an educated guess as to how the new President will treat the sector.

Cyber security and encryption

Earlier in the year Apple faced a court order that would require it to assist authorities in unlocking an iPhone that belonged to one of the killers involved in the San Bernandino mass shooting.

Apple refused to do this and Trump said at a rally in South Carolina: “First of all, Apple ought to give [authorities] the security to that phone.

“What I think you ought to do is boycott Apple until they give that security number. I just thought of that—boycott Apple.”

Later Trump told Bloomberg: “I would come down so hard on him (Tim Cook, Apple CEO)—you have no idea—his head would be spinning all of the way back to Silicon Valley.”

On a more general cyber security front Trump’s site that details his vision says: “Order an immediate review of all U.S. cyber defenses and vulnerabilities, including critical infrastructure, by a Cyber Review Team of individuals from the military, law enforcement, and the private sector.”

The review team would provide recommendations and will establish detailed protocols and mandatory cyber awareness training for all government employees.

It would also instruct the U.S. Department of Justice to create joint task forces throughout the U.S. to help coordinate Federal, State, and local law enforcement responses to cyber threats.

Infrastructure

Donald Trump has said that he plans to transform America’s infrastructure and create jobs in sectors such as telecommunications and to bring new technologies into things like the transportation system.

“Incorporate new technologies and innovations into our national transportation system such as state-of-the-art pipelines, advancements in maritime commerce, and the next generation of vehicles,” the Trump site says.

Net neutrality

Net neutrality is only in its infancy but it may not last for long, Trump said in a tweet: “Obama’s attack on the internet is another top down power grab. Net neutrality is the Fairness Doctrine. Will target the conservative media.”

Taxes

This forms one of Donald Trump’s key policies to be America first and to bring jobs back to the country.

Trump’s policy says that it will reduce taxes across the board but that he will: “Eliminate special interest loopholes, make our business tax rate more competitive to keep jobs in America, create new opportunities and revitalize our economy.”

The Trump plan is to lower the business tax rate from 35% to 15% and eliminate the corporate alternative minimum tax.

UK Reaction

Russ Shaw, Founder, Tech London Advocates: “Today’s result is bad news for the international business community, including UK companies. Many of Trump’s policies are detrimental to the open global commerce that the US has historically pursued, and his election heralds a period of regulatory uncertainty and instability.

“During his campaign Trump appeared determined to close off American markets to the rest of the globe, and he could well endanger the international system upon which Silicon Valley and American free enterprise has been so successful.

“Despite this, the UK tech sector is resilient and thrives on challenges and responding to setbacks, as evidenced by our bounce-back following the Brexit vote. The UK’s private sector must now lead the way in building international trade links.

“Tech London Advocates has launched sibling organisations in San Francisco’s Bay Area and Dublin in the last three months, and the technology sector as a whole will continue working with international partners to forge links that will enable us to remain a leading global hub of innovation.”