EU To Enlighten Apple On How To Comply With DMA, Apple Puts Forth THIS Warning

EU antitrust said, “Today is the first time we use specification proceedings under DMA to guide Apple towards effective compliance with its interoperability obligations through constructive dialogue.”

The European Union antitrust regulators have launched proceedings on Thursday to ensure that the iPhone maker Apple complies with the DMA rules, which require it to open up the vault of its closed ecosystem to the rivals. If Apple fails to let other players have a fair chance, then it will have to face a big fine. The European Commission is now planning to explain what Apple has to do in order to abide by the EU DMA. Apple, however, has warned that undermining the protections would put European consumers at risk, giving bad actors more ways to access their devices and data.

EU antitrust chief Margrethe Vestager, in a statement, said, “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.”

EU Commission's Focus Of Investigations

The EU competition authority stated that the initial investigation focuses on iOS connectivity features and functionalities related to smartwatches, headphones, virtual reality headsets, and other internet-enabled devices.

The Commission said, “The Commission intends to specify how Apple will provide effective interoperability with functionalities such as notifications, device pairing and connectivity.”

The second point of focus for the investigation is how Apple handles interoperability requests from developers and third parties for its iOS and iPadOS systems. Both inquiries are expected to conclude within the next six months.

It added, “It is crucial that the request process is transparent, timely, and fair so that all developers have an effective and predictable path to interoperability and are enabled to innovate.”

Apple, on the other hand, has said that it will continue to work constructively with the investigating body however, it has also warned about the risks. Apple said, “Undermining the protections we’ve built over time would put European consumers at risk, giving bad actors more ways to access their devices and data.”