The Cupertino tech giant is facing a tough time with the regulations of the European Union. Apple, on record, is requesting that the authorities either repeal or substantially revise the EU’s Digital Markets Act. This is considering it poses a risk to user privacy. While this is on record, Apple is reportedly close to settling with the antitrust regulator.
Apple may reach a settlement with the EU over the Digital Markets Act
This is an interesting development, considering the two parties have engaged in a fierce battle of words in public. However, behind the doors, there might be a settlement soon, as per a report from the Financial Times. Even Meta is close to settling as well. The negotiations are continuing, and people familiar with the talks say that there’s no final decision yet. But they are hopeful that it will settle soon.
If you’re feeling lost, Europe’s Digital Markets Act (DMA) antitrust legislation designated several companies as “gatekeepers.” What this means is that they are powerful enough to block the competition by using their dominant position.
Apple was a designated gatekeeper as it hit a minimum user threshold. One of the main concerns is its monopoly over the sale of iPhone apps. The company must allow people to buy and sell iPhone apps outside of its own App Store. While Apple complied with this, it led to several alternative app stores for iPhone apps.
The final decision is yet to be taken
Furthermore, DMA also notes that if Apple brings new iPhone-powered features that work with its own hardware, then it must make the features available to third-party hardware companies. However, Apple notes that this will pose a major privacy challenge. This is why it had to delay the launch of some new features within the EU.
Apple accuses the EU of only applying these rules to Apple, even though Samsung is the market leader in Europe, and the competition from Chinese brands is growing. It notes that DMA leaves out the competition while focusing on Apple. For what it’s worth, Apple complied by permitting third-party app stores. However, the remaining dispute is whether Apple unfairly treats developers who choose these stores to offer their apps.
The latest development is that Apple and Meta are in the final stages of agreeing to the deal with European regulators. This is after being fined a total of €700 million ~$813 million (both Apple and Meta combined) in April for breaching the EU’s Digital Markets Act.
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