Apple threatens to restrict the functions of its products in the EU over DMA requirements
By ForGeeks Apple continues to fight the European Commission’s decision to fine the company €500 million for violating provisions of the Digital Markets Act (DMA). An appeal has already been filed, and an official statement from Apple published by John Gruber of Daring Fireball indicates that there could be significant consequences for users in the EU.
Apple’s official statement indicates that the decision could have significant consequences for users in the EU.
The company said that its ecosystem of devices is designed as a whole to provide a unique and expected user experience. However, Apple said EU interoperability requirements violate these principles, create excessive costs and stifle innovation.
Apple says the EU’s interoperability requirements violate these principles, create excessive costs and stifle innovation.
Apple also expresses privacy concerns: third-party developers, it argues, are demanding access to users’ most sensitive data, from notifications to Wi-Fi history – information that even Apple itself doesn’t have access to.
The final paragraph of the statement drew particular attention, saying the rules could «severely limit Apple’s ability to release innovative products and features in Europe» resulting in a «worse user experience for European customers»
And that the rules could «severely limit Apple’s ability to deliver innovative products and features in Europe» resulting in «a worse user experience for European customers»
What could this mean in practice? One option is full DMA compliance: giving third-party developers access to system features and notifications, and allowing other apps to replace AirDrop by default. But such a move could undermine Apple’s current privacy model.
More likely, according to Gruber, is Apple withdrawing support for AirDrop in the EU. A halt to sales of the Apple Watch and AirPods in Europe is also being considered as a last resort. However, given the high profitability of those products, such a move seems unlikely.
However, the situation remains uncertain, and the fate of many familiar features for European users depends on the outcome of this legal battle.
The story Apple threatens to limit the features of its products in the EU due to DMA requirements was first published on ITZine.ru.
