Apple has called on the European Commission to repeal the Digital Markets Act (DMA), warning that the current regulatory framework threatens to undermine European users' experience and put their security at risk.
Apple indicated that failure to review the Digital Markets Act could lead the company to halt distribution of some of its products and services within the 27 countries of the European Union.
This warning came in an official document submitted by the American company as part of its participation in the Commission's review of legislation that came into effect three years ago, aiming to limit the dominance of tech giants that act as "gatekeepers" in digital markets.
Apple expressed deep concern that the law's requirements, particularly those related to "interoperability" between different platforms (the ability of applications and systems to securely and automatically exchange data regardless of geographic, political, or regulatory boundaries), force the company to break the integrated model its products build, leading to:
· Degraded user experience : creating a less smooth and more complex experience.
· New security risks : Opening loopholes that could allow competitors to access sensitive data.
· Delaying innovation : hindering the launch of new features that users were waiting for.
Apple revealed that the law has already forced it to postpone the launch of several features in European Union countries, including:
· Instant translation service via AirPods.
· Ability to display iPhone screen on laptops.
The company warned that "the list of delayed features in the EU will likely grow, meaning our users in the EU will experience Apple products even further behind."
Apple also accused the European Commission of creating "unfair competition," noting that the rules do not apply equally to its direct competitors, such as Samsung, the largest smartphone supplier in the European market.
The company gave a stark example of the security challenges posed by the law, noting that one of its requirements is to ensure that headphones from other brands work with iPhones. It explained that this requirement prevents the launch of the instant translation service in the European Union because it could allow competing companies to access conversation data, posing a serious "privacy issue."
In its summary of its assessment, Apple called for either the repeal of the Digital Markets Act entirely, or at least its replacement with more appropriate legislation .
While she did not specify exactly which products would be discontinued, she noted that a key product like the Apple Watch , launched a decade ago, might not have been released had the law been in effect at the time.
This confrontation is the latest in a series of disputes between Apple and the European Commission, which previously included a €500 million fine imposed on the company over allegations of anti-competitive practices related to the App Store.
Apple concluded its criticism by accusing the law's authors of encouraging unfair competition , saying, "Instead of competing through innovation, already successful companies are twisting the law to suit their own agendas—either to collect more data from EU citizens or to get Apple technology for free."
The company also expressed concerns about user protection, noting that the law allowed applications, such as those for pornographic content, to appear in alternative app stores on the iPhone. These applications were previously banned by Apple from its official store due to the risks they pose, especially to children.
The European Commission has not yet commented on these statements.
