In the latest development between the European Commission and Apple, the latter has delivered a stark warning, calling for a complete overhaul of the new Digital Markets Act (DMA). The Cupertino-based tech giant cautions that the new legislation may force the company to stop shipping some of its popular products and services to the EU countries.
In a submission made during the Commission’s review of the three-year-old anti-monopoly law, which was shared by The Guardian, the iPhone maker argued that the DMA is degrading the user experience for Apple customers, jeopardising security, and undermining the seamless integration of Apple’s ecosystem.
The legislation is expected to curb the gatekeeping power of major digital companies like Apple by forcing them to open up their software platforms to allow greater competition and interoperability.
DMA delays Apple’s release of new features
Apple claims the DMA’s requirements have already necessitated the delay of key user features in the region. The company said that its planned live translation service for AirPods and the ability to mirror iPhone screens onto a laptop as features were held back because the DMA demands interoperability with non-Apple products and services.
“The DMA means the list of delayed features in the EU will probably get longer, and our EU users’ experience on Apple products will fall further behind,” the company stated in its submission.
Apple commented on the resulting environment, stating that “instead of competing by innovating, already successful companies are twisting the law to suit their own agendas – to collect more data from EU citizens, or to get Apple’s technology for free.”
The company further highlighted the security risks, stating that under the DMA, “Pornography apps are available on iPhone from other marketplaces – apps we’ve never allowed on the App Store because of the risks they create, especially for children.”
Will Apple stop shipping iPhones in the EU?
While Apple did not specify which products would be pulled from the market, it used a historical example to illustrate the gravity of the situation.
The company indicated that a product like the Apple Watch, which was first released a decade ago, might not be launched in the EU under the current regulatory constraints. Apple also noted a perceived double standard, arguing that the DMA creates unfair competition by not applying the same stringent rules to rival Samsung, which is the largest smartphone provider in the EU.
