The European Union is maintaining its antitrust investigation into Apple, despite US President Donald Trump's strong criticism of the European regulatory measures. While Apple continues to take measures to comply with the requirements of the Digital Markets Act (DMA), EU competition watchdogs remain skeptical. Final decisions on possible penalties or adjustments are expected by March.
Apple is regularly targeted by EU competition authorities. The App Store, support for third-party apps and the fee structure are particularly criticized. The suspicion is that Apple's business strategy could hinder competition in the digital market. Despite some adjustments by the company, the EU authorities are not convinced that Apple is sufficiently implementing the requirements. The ongoing investigation could have far-reaching consequences - not only for Apple but also for other tech giants such as Meta and Google (via Reuters).
EU continues investigation
In March 2024 started The European Commission is investigating Apple, Google and Meta over possible violations of the Digital Markets Act, which is intended to ensure fair competition in the digital market. The EU has reason to believe that Apple may have violated these regulations in three areas:
- Violations of the App Store's anti-steering rules, which prohibit developers from promoting alternative payment options outside the store
- Restrictions on third-party browsers, which may hinder Apple's competition
- A new fee structure for third-party app marketplaces, which is also considered anti-competitive
The EU wants to make a final decision by March. Competition chief Teresa Ribera said the investigations were based on evidence and the decisions had been discussed with the companies.
Trump criticizes EU approach
Donald Trump holds little of the strict EU regulations and sees the high penalties against US tech companies as a kind of hidden tax. According to him, the EU has too many rules that disadvantage American companies. Nevertheless, the EU remains steadfast and stresses that its decisions are not influenced by US politics. Ribera made it clear that Europe will not give up its principles. The EU is ready to talk but not ready to be put under pressure. She stressed that issues such as democracy, human rights and the cohesion of the EU are non-negotiable.
Apple's previous reactions
Apple has already made adjustments to comply with the DMA requirements. In August, it simplified the process for EU users to choose alternative apps instead of the pre-installed Apple apps. But that may not be enough. Critics accuse Apple of only doing the bare minimum to avoid sanctions. Particularly controversial is the new fee structure for alternative app stores introduced by Apple. This could mean that developers still have to bear high costs even if they bypass Apple's own app store. Apple argues that it has done enough to comply with EU regulations. The company has published a white paper describing the risks of third-party app stores. Another white paper looks at the EU's interoperability requirements.
Previous EU penalties against Apple
The EU has already had to take action against Apple on several occasions. In March 2024, a fine of 1.8 billion euros was imposed imposedbecause Apple allegedly used anti-competitive practices with Apple Music. The streaming service was not even market-dominant, which makes the severity of the penalty all the more remarkable. Apple also had to comply with EU regulations in other areas. One example is the USB-C port in the iPhone 15, which Apple introduced in 2023. This change was necessary to comply with a new EU rule designed to reduce the number of proprietary chargers.
Reactions from the tech world
It's not just the EU that has Apple in its sights; other tech companies are also criticizing it. Epic Games, for example, called Apple's measures to comply with the DMA "hot garbage" and accused the company of only half-heartedly implementing the new requirements. At the same time, Apple has also had success against the EU in the past. An investigation into Apple's handling of competing audiobook apps was closed in November 2023 after four years after the original complaint was withdrawn.
How will Apple respond to growing EU pressure?
The coming months will be crucial. If the EU finds that Apple continues to violate the DMA, further penalties or new requirements could follow. However, if Apple improves its position, it could avoid a dispute with the competition authorities. One thing is certain: the EU will remain tough and Apple will continue to have to adapt. It remains to be seen whether the company will find a long-term strategy to deal with the European requirements. (Photo by symbiot / Bigstockphoto)
- iOS backdoor? USA threatens Britain with consequences
- iPhone production in India stalls – China pulls the strings
- DeepSeek banned from App Store: South Korea draws consequences
