Brussels: Apple has urged the European Commission to repeal or significantly amend a range of technology legislation, warning that failure to do so could force the company to stop shipping certain products and services to the 27-country bloc.
In the latest clash with Brussels, Apple criticised the Digital Markets Act (DMA), claiming it worsens the user experience, exposes users to security risks, and disrupts the seamless integration between Apple devices.
The submission was made as part of the European Commission’s review of the three-year-old anti-monopoly law, which regulates the so-called gatekeeper power of major digital companies, including search engines, messaging platforms, and app providers.
Apple said that due to the DMAs’ interoperability requirements, it has already delayed the launch of features such as AirPods’ live translation and iPhone screen mirroring to laptops.
“The DMA means the list of delayed features in the EU will probably get longer, and our EU users’ experience on Apple products will fall further behind,” the company stated. Apple also argued that the DMA creates unfair competition because its rules do not apply to Samsung, the largest smartphone manufacturer in the EU.
One requirement of the DMA is that Apple must ensure that third-party headphones work with iPhones. Apple said that this requirement has blocked its live translation service in the EU, as it would require sharing sensitive conversation data with competitors, raising privacy concerns.
Apple called for the DMA to be repealed or replaced with more appropriate legislation, though it did not specify which products could potentially be withheld. The company noted that the Apple Watch, first released a decade ago, might not have been launched in the EU under current DMA rules.
This dispute follows previous confrontations between Apple and the European Commission. Earlier this year, Apple launched an appeal against a €500 million EU fine for allegedly preventing app developers from directing users to cheaper deals outside the App Store.
In August, US President Donald Trump threatened tariffs against unspecified nations in retaliation for rules targeting US tech companies.
Apple further criticised the DMA, claiming that instead of competing through innovation, already successful companies are exploiting the law to collect more data from EU citizens or gain access to Apple’s proprietary technology for free.
The company also said that DMA rules impact the way it provides access to apps. “Pornography apps are available on iPhone from other marketplaces – apps we’ve never allowed on the App Store because of the risks they create, especially for children,” it added.
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