Brussels – The European Union on Thursday dismissed Apple’s call to withdraw its Digital Markets Act (DMA), rejecting the company’s claims that the legislation puts users at risk.
Apple made the request in a formal submission to the European Commission as part of a consultation on the law, saying the DMA should be repealed and replaced with a “fit for purpose” framework.
The Commission said it had “absolutely no intention” of scrapping the law. “Apple has simply contested every little bit of the DMA since its entry into application,” EU digital affairs spokesperson Thomas Regnier said.
The DMA, which has applied since March 2024, sets out what large online platforms can and cannot do in the 27-nation bloc. It requires them to open up ecosystems to rivals, such as by allowing alternative app marketplaces and giving consumers more choice over web browsers and search engines.
Non-compliance can result in steep penalties. In April, Brussels fined Apple €500 million ($590 million) under the DMA, a decision under appeal. Separately, the company was hit with a €1.8 billion penalty in March 2024 under different EU competition rules.
Apple said the DMA disrupts the integrated experience of its devices, citing user complaints and warning that allowing rival app stores exposes consumers to new security risks. It also said the regulation forced delays in features for European users, including a live translation function for AirPods that was launched in the United States this month.
The Commission rejected those concerns. “Nothing in the DMA requires companies to lower their privacy standards, their security standards,” Regnier said.
Apple suggested enforcement of the law be carried out by an independent European agency instead of the Commission. Officials said oversight would remain with Brussels.
The Commission closed its first review consultation of the DMA late on Wednesday.
Apple’s clash with European regulators comes as it steps up operations in India, both as a manufacturing hub and a growing consumer market. The company has expanded local assembly of iPhones through suppliers such as Foxconn and Wistron.
Analysts say India is becoming increasingly important to Apple as growth slows in Europe and China, even while regulatory scrutiny intensifies in the West.
