Apple demands EU scrap landmark tech law
In open conflict with Brussels, the US company calls for the repeal of the Digital Markets Act
The move is unusual, but it fits the combative strategy Apple has adopted since the European Union’s Digital Markets Act (DMA) came into force last year. Last week, the Cupertino-based group formally asked for the legislation, designed to boost competition in digital markets, to be scrapped, as part of a public consultation launched by the European Commission.
Brussels quickly shot down the request, insisting it doesn’t intend to roll back the law. “We are not surprised: Apple has contested everything in the DMA since its entry into application,” a spokesperson said. The latest clash underscores a breakdown in dialogue between the two sides, coming at a pivotal moment as several key rulings loom — and with the risk of further fueling already tense transatlantic relations with Washington.
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Apple’s arguments are nothing new. The tech giant has long complained about rules it says are inconsistently applied, and resents being forced to share its technologies “for free” with rivals. It also claims the DMA exposes its users to new risks, particularly by allowing apps to be downloaded outside its own App Store.
The company argues it has no choice but to delay product launches in Europe. One recent example: live translation features on its new AirPods. According to Apple, the DMA requires that this function work with rival headphones as well, creating “challenges that take time to solve.” Last year, the rollout of its artificial intelligence suite, Apple Intelligence, was also postponed in Europe.
Apple’s combative stance looks like an effort to rally European public opinion against a regulation it has repeatedly condemned. The company casts itself as a champion of user safety, though its real priority is protecting profits threatened by the arrival of third-party app stores on iOS. From the outset, Apple has never sought to comply with the DMA, but rather to exploit its loopholes.
Daily penalties ahead?
Its warnings about the risks of interoperability echo earlier scare tactics — such as when it resisted opening access to its NFC chip. Beyond that, there is a political subtext: reinforcing the Trump administration’s opposition to the DMA and its companion law, the Digital Services Act (DSA), which Washington argues unfairly target US tech giants.
Apple’s timing is hardly coincidental. Behind the scenes, several companies are lobbying for the Commission to be stripped of its enforcement role in favor of an independent body deemed more impartial. Meanwhile, Brussels is finalizing its review of the changes Apple announced after being fined €500 million in April for anti-steering practices (restricting app developers from directing users to outside payment options).
Apple’s proposed adjustments fall well short of EU expectations — potentially exposing the company to penalties of up to 5% of its daily turnover, roughly €50 million. And another storm is brewing: the Commission’s pending review of Apple’s new commission structure for third-party app stores.