Everything except the Mac line has a locked boot process. So your iPhone or iPad must run the latest iOS, must have an Apple ID, must source apps from Apple, and Apple has gotten so good at securing their devices that its basically killed hobbyist jailbreaking.
Anything you do on these multi thousand dollar devices is only because Apple allows you to— reluctantly, I might add.
I didn't take my time to read this with my full attention, I'll be the first to admit; But I think this article is being way too dramatic and paranoid. And thats coming from somebody certifiably overdramatic and paranoid.
EDIT: to add, it does have some reference to past and current events in the technology space but it quickly devolves into baseless, referenceless speculation.
Also, is this just a "stole this topic from xyz social media" article but from Hacker News instead of Reddit?
It's not confirmed. Its just pessimism, albeit very well argued and precedented.