The European Commission has initiated two specification proceedings to ensure Apple complies with the Digital Markets Act (DMA) interoperability requirements. The first targets iOS connectivity features, including smartwatches, headphones, and virtual reality headsets, and the second is centred around Apple’s process for managing interoperability requests from developers and third-party businesses.
The proceedings, announced today, formalise ongoing regulatory dialogue between the Commission and Apple, targeting specific areas where Apple’s adherence to Article 6(7) of the DMA—focused on interoperability—needs clarification.
This article obligates “gatekeepers,” like Apple, to provide access to hardware and software features within its operating systems, including iOS and iPadOS.
The DMA, which aims to curtain the dominance of ‘gatekeeper’ companies like Apple, mandates that tech giants ensure their platforms are more accessible to competitors.
“Pursuant to Article 8(2) of the DMA, the Commission may, on its own initiative, adopt a decision specifying the measures a gatekeeper has to implement to ensure effective compliance with substantive DMA obligations, such as the interoperability obligation of Article 6(7) DMA,” EU said.
In Apple’s case, this could mean opening up access to integral iPhone features, such as Siri’s voice commands and the device’s secure payment chips, which have long been reserved for Apple’s ecosystem.
The European Union has not yet initiated an official inquiry, but this preliminary notice indicates the EU’s determination to implement the Digital Market Act’s rigorous standards.
The Commission has set a six-month timeline to conclude these proceedings. During this time, Apple will receive preliminary findings outlining the steps required to meet its interoperability obligations.
Once these findings are prepared, a non-confidential summary will be published, allowing third-party developers and businesses to provide feedback.
Apple may face severe financial penalties if it does not adhere to these regulations. The potential fines could reach up to a tenth of the company’s worldwide turnover, which, given Apple’s substantial global revenue, might amount to multiple billions of dollars.
“Today is the first time we use specification proceedings under the DMA to guide Apple towards effective compliance with its interoperability obligations through constructive dialogue,” says Margrethe Vestager, Executive Vice-President in charge of competition policy.
Apple and the EU have not been on the best of terms lately. Recently, Europe’s top court, The European Court of Justice, handed out a €13 billion tax bill confirming the sentence handed out by the European Commission in 2016.
In June 2024, the European Commission informed Apple of its preliminary view that the company’s App Store rules potentially violate the Digital Markets Act (DMA).
In April, AltStore PAL, a third-party iPhone app store, was approved by Apple for European customers using iOS 17.4 or later. Apple allowed AltStore PAL to operate due to the pressure from the EU’s DMA.
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