Apple is once again in trouble, as the European Commission has ordered the iPhone maker to open its closed ecosystem to rival companies in order to comply with the EU’s Digital Markets Act. The regulatory body hopes that this will reduce big tech’s dominance. According to the decision, Apple must grant competing smartphone, headphone, and virtual reality device manufacturers access to its technology and mobile operating system, ensuring seamless connectivity with iPhones and iPads.
According to the report by Reuters, Apple will now have to follow a more structured process and timeline to address interoperability requests from app developers. The move follows a six-month investigation by EU regulators to ensure Apple complies with DMA guidelines.
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On the other hand, Apple criticised the directive stating that it will hamper innovation and will give an unfair benefit to the competitors. “Today’s decisions wrap us in red tape, slowing down Apple’s ability to innovate for users in Europe and forcing us to give away our new features for free,” Apple said in a statement as quoted by Reuters.
In response, EU antitrust chief Teresa Ribera clarified that the decision aims to implement existing laws and provide regulatory clarity for both Apple and developers. Failure to comply with the EU order could lead to an investigation and fines of up to 10% of Apple’s global annual sales.
Meanwhile, the EU has also warned Google to comply with Digital Markets Act (DMA), accusing the tech giant of favoring its own services in search results and restricting app developers from directing users to external offers. The EU also stated that non-compliance to the laws would result in hefty fines.
