Apple Urges EU to Repeal Digital Markets Act, Citing Delayed Features and Security Threats
Apple has appealed to the European Commission with a call to reconsider and repeal the Digital Markets Act (DMA), a law introduced to curb the influence of the largest technology corporations. The company argues that the legislation has resulted in delays in delivering new features to users in the European Union, while simultaneously increasing risks to privacy and security.
The law, which came into force in 2024, obliges major players—designated as “Gatekeepers”—to open their platforms to third-party developers and competitors. Brussels emphasizes that for Apple and others, this is not a matter of choice but a binding legal obligation.
According to Apple, several services had to be postponed in Europe, including iPhone-to-Mac screen mirroring, real-time translation via AirPods, and location-based features in Maps. The company claims these delays stem from the need to adapt them for compatibility with third-party products and applications. Furthermore, Apple contends that the protective mechanisms it proposed to safeguard user privacy were rejected by the European Commission, leaving no viable compromise.
Apple warns that the new rules have led to a less seamless and more hazardous user experience. The ability to install applications from external sources and access alternative app stores, the company argues, has opened the door to fraudulent services, malicious software, and content that was previously filtered out by the App Store.
In June, Apple had already modified its policies and pricing in the European App Store to comply with EU antitrust requirements. Now, however, the corporation asserts that the DMA is not fostering market growth but instead complicating business operations in the region.
The European Commission is currently conducting an initial review of the law’s effectiveness, collecting feedback from across the industry, including Apple. Officials maintain that the DMA’s primary purpose is to ensure competition and interoperability of services, with user interests remaining paramount. Criticism of the law has also emerged beyond Europe: the Trump administration in the United States has consistently opposed the DMA. Nevertheless, the European Commission insists that the regulations will be enforced in full, regardless of external pressure.
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