[m4rtink]

This is one of the things I worry about - a duopoly not just backed by two wealthy and shady megacorps but also effectively by law as it mandates a mobile app for some things yet the app only exists for iOS and Android & no public API is available.

[amelius]

Shouldn't they at least support the Web?

[oarsinsync]

Several of the “challenger” / “FinTech” banks in the UK (e.g. Monzo, Starling) require the use of their app. They offer limited read-only views via web, but only offer all features via app. No iOS / Android phone? Go to a different bank.

[db579]

Starling do offer an API anyone can use to interact with their own account. Doesn't allow full functionality yet though.

[jlokier]

Even when using the web, some of the banks' websites require a step that involves your phone.

The phone app is effectively used as a hardware security token.

[hedora]

The short stories in Caroline M Yoachim’s Shadow Prison trilogy explore the implications of locking society in to a single mobile platform:

https://www.lightspeedmagazine.com/fiction/the-shadow-prison...

Great stuff. (No affiliation.) I need to dig into her other work. Apparently quite a bit of her other stuff is also available online for free.