The current climate between Apple and the European Union is tense. The technology company claims that the Digital Markets Act (DMA) rules are harming it, delaying the arrival of new features for European users, and is therefore asking Brussels to review this legislation. The company has seen this set of rules as a way to harm the consumer experience, despite being designed to increase competition in the digital sector. This issue directly impacts the lives of millions of people who use Apple products on the continent, especially when it comes to accessing the latest features.
Apple presses Brussels for changes
Apple has been quite vocal about the DMA and has stated that the law should be repealed. The company believes that this legislation requires changes that end up opening up numerous security loopholes and weakening the integration between its products. Furthermore, the company also argued that its consumers are facing more difficulties than benefits because of this law.
One of the examples mentioned in this debate and presented concerns the delay in launching features in Europe. Live translation via AirPods is already available in the United States, but it hasn’t yet reached the European bloc because, according to Apple, additional adaptations would be necessary to meet the law’s privacy requirements.
For Europe’s part, the Commission has shown no signs of backing down on the new rules. According to regulators, the DMA is not intended to attack any specific company, but rather to ensure that large technology companies do not abuse their dominant position. Their logic is simple: the more options and competition, the greater the benefit to the end consumer.
What is DMA and why does it affect Apple?
Recently, the DMA established a list — called “gatekeepers” — of major digital companies, such as Apple, Google, and Meta, that are allowed or not allowed to use. One of the main requirements, and the most talked about, is the obligation to offer choice screens for browsers and different search engines, preventing only the company’s own services from being privileged.
Furthermore, there are also requirements for products to operate more openly. This means that European users must be able to connect third-party accessories — meaning those from other companies — to Apple devices without any artificial difficulties or limitations.
Delays, risks and fragmented experience
This law came into effect in 2024, and since then, the DMA has already resulted in millions of dollars in fines for some companies. One example is Apple, which was already fined €500 million in April of this year, accused of limiting competition in its ecosystem. The major technology company decided to appeal, but Brussels made it clear that any company that violates the rules will face a heavy penalty.
This review process, which has just closed its deadline for contributions, is precisely to evaluate the first few months of the new rule’s implementation, analyzing what makes sense and what doesn’t. Many comments were received from companies, experts, and citizens. Opinions are divided between those who want the adjustments and those who argue that the law has already brought significant progress.
What can we expect from the application of DMA rules?
While regulators want to ensure that technology companies don’t abuse their market power, companies like Apple argue that if these rules are too strict, they could end up slowing innovation and creating a poor consumer experience.
This clash between Apple and the European Union goes far beyond legal issues, as it could affect any technology user with issues related to privacy, security, innovation, and freedom of choice. At the center of this dispute are European users, who risk not even having access to new features. Brussels’ decision on the future of the DMA could become a new milestone for regulatory measures.