Apple has formally told European regulators that the Digital Markets Act is forcing delays for new features in the European Union. The company says the law requires it to make certain Apple features work on third-party devices and apps before it can release them to European users. Apple added that meeting those requirements has slowed engineering work and raised privacy and security risks.
The company listed several features it has paused in Europe. Apple named live translation for AirPods as one item that must be made compatible with non-Apple earbuds before it can be offered in the EU. The company also said it is delaying iPhone mirroring to Mac and some Maps features that show visited places and preferred routes. Apple asked the European Commission to repeal the law or to pause enforcement until a new legislative approach is adopted.
Features delayed in EU
Apple said its engineers face extra work to ensure interoperability. The DMA requires gatekeeper platforms to open certain system features to rivals. Apple argues that some features rely on data that it cannot safely share with third-party hardware and software without increasing the risk of scams and malware. The company also said it proposed technical changes to protect user data, but that regulators rejected those proposals.
Regulators and some privacy experts disagree with Apple about the risks. The European Commission says that the DMA is designed to increase competition and give users more choice while preserving privacy and security. A Commission spokesperson said the law does not force companies to lower privacy or security standards. The Commission also noted that it provided guidance on how gatekeepers can comply and that it has been open to technical discussions.
Privacy and security
Apple frames the dispute as a clash between privacy goals and open ecosystems. The company has long argued that its tightly integrated hardware and software model protects users. Under the DMA, Apple must allow more third-party app stores and payment systems on its platform in the EU and must open some interfaces to outside developers and devices. Apple says those steps change the threat model for its devices.
Observers see multiple forces at work. Some policymakers welcome the DMA as a way to curb gatekeeper power and to let smaller companies build on the biggest platforms. Others worry that the new rules create engineering complexity and risk for large consumer products. The debate is likely to intensify because the EU has already fined Apple for past App Store practices and is actively enforcing DMA rules.
How this affects users
In the case of the European customers, the immediate effect may be the delayed implementation of features enjoyed by other parts of the world. Apple said that the list of delayed features could continue to increase as new technologies come. The company reported that it is striving to comply but that it is taking longer than it thought. Regulators, in the meantime, indicated that they have no intention of unraveling the DMA and that the legislation is designed to enable users to have additional control and discretion.