Apple wants the EU to repeal the Digital Markets Act, claims it is harmful for users

Apple has published a statement that explains the harmful impact that the European Union’s Digital Markets Act has on users. Grab a seat, and let’s analyze these impacts.
The Digital Markets Act came into effect in 2022. Companies which meet a certain threshold have been designated as gatekeepers, and need to follow some rules in the European Economic Area. Apple was among those companies which were designated as gatekeepers, and had to allow certain things, like interoperability in apps. The Cupertino company has opposed these laws from day one, because of the impact it had on its business.
Apple’s statement claims that the DMA causes feature delays for its users in the EU. For example, Apple Intelligence arrived quite a bit late after its debut in the U.S.
Let’s get started with the complaints one at a time.
Live Translation with Airpods is a feature that uses Apple Intelligence to process the translations on the device (connected iPhone), this data is not accessible even by Apple. Apple says its engineers have to do additional work to ensure their work is not exposed to other companies or developers. What’s the problem here? If the data is indeed processed privately as you claim it is, why is the additional work necessary? If Apple were to introduce it in the EU, it would probably be required to allow other OEMs to access the feature. So, this extra work is another way to ensure that the feature is exclusive to AirPods, and not usable by other earbuds?
Next is iPhone Mirroring, which lets users access their notifications and other content directly on their Mac. Apple says it has not found a secure way to bring this feature to non-Apple devices, without compromising user data on iPhone. That’s a technical way of saying that opening up iPhone Mirroring’s APIs would allow other devices like Windows and Android devices to use the feature. They don’t want that to happen.
Apple admits it is unwilling to make Visited Places and Preferred Routes on Maps shareable with other developers, because it would expose users’ locations. This should be the user’s choice, shouldn’t it? If I want to export the data, or switch to a different app, I should be allowed to.
Apple loves to play the security card, and it did so again to talk about sideloading, allowing other app marketplaces and alternative payment systems. It claims that these requirements don’t meet the same “high privacy and security standards as the App Store”. Apple points out that there is a risk of scams via fake banking apps, malware disguised as games, and third-party systems that overcharge users.
Pot, meet Kettle! Apple’s own app store is not invulnerable to these scams and fake apps, and speaking of overcharging, ever heard of the Core Technology Fee? Looks like they still haven’t learned their lesson, even after being told their anti-steering practices were illegal.
Apple’s defense of the App Store is unbelievable. It says that third-party app marketplaces look different, have their own rules, review standards, and that these open up risks of malicious apps slipping through. It claims this is a less intuitive experience, because users mat not know where an app came from. The average user isn’t going to bother with sideloading, the ones who do, will be aware of what they are doing. It’s called user choice.
Apple points out that pornography apps are available on iPhone for the first time, on other marketplaces. It directly blamed the AltStore for hosting such an app, and also claimed that the DMA brought gambling apps to iPhone. Apple says these harmful apps create risks, especially for children. Of course, they all want to protect the kids. We’ve all heard about predatory stories associated with Roblox and other apps. Did Apple delist them to protect the children? Did anyone? They are just using “we want to protect the kids”, when it’s in their favor.
Downloading an app is the user’s choice, and hence their responsibility, not Apple’s or anybody else. Lecturing about gambling apps, really? The iOS App Store is riddled with hot trash apps, even basic apps like calendars, alarms, timers, lock basic features behind weekly, monthly, annual subscriptions. What about the crypto wallets on the store? Games with timers, gems, coins, whatever. The amount of garbage apps, asset flips, AI slop with in-app purchases you can find on the App Store is staggering. What’s Apple so mad about? It’s plain and simple, they are not earning revenue from these third-party marketplaces.
Apple says that large companies submit requests to collect complete content of a user’s notifications, the full history of Wi-Fi networks a user has joined, etc., and this exposes users. It has denied access to such sensitive data, some of which it doesn’t even have access to. Okay, I’ll give Apple this one, good on you, but the OS should warn the user their data is exposed.
Apple says that the DMA’s rules lead to unfair competition. This is unreal levels of irony, the company which refuses to allow third-party browser engines on iOS/iPadOS is whining about unfair competition. Apple claims that companies like Samsung and Chinese companies are free to do what they want, while Apple’s innovation is not rewarded, and stifled. Devices made by Samsung and other companies run on Android, which is made by Google, which is also a fellow designated gatekeeper.
Apple believes that the DMA is leading to a worse experience for Apple users in the EU, and wants the Act to be repealed. The entire statement reads like a rant, it’s embarrassing. Here’s my favorite part from it, “For instance, the changes to app marketplaces are making iOS look more like Android — and that reduces choice”. They really wrote that. Shame about Android heading in that direction with its anti-sideloading changes.
Does Apple even realize the restrictions that they impose upon users are their own form of gatekeeping?
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