Shulou(Shulou.com)11/24 Report--

CTOnews.com New EU rules, which come into effect on November 1, could force Apple to allow users access to third-party app stores and allow apps to be loaded on iPhone and iPad, among other sweeping changes aimed at making the digital space fairer and more competitive.

Under the EU's Digital Markets Act (DMA), the rules will apply to tech giants who meet their "gatekeeper" criteria and force them to open up their various services and platforms to other companies and developers.

Because of the size of Apple's annual turnover in the EU, the large number of active users on its owned and operated platforms, and because of the length of time it has met these criteria, its "entrenched and enduring position" is almost certain to be classified as a "gatekeeper" and will therefore be subject to the rules set out in the DMA.

DMA could force Apple to make significant changes to how App Store, messaging, FaceTime and Siri work in Europe. For example, it could be forced to allow users to install third-party app stores and side-loaded apps that allow developers to work closely with Apple's own services, promote their products outside the app store, use third-party payment systems, and access data Apple collects.

CTOnews.com has learned that one of DMA's recent additions is a requirement to make messaging, voice calling and video calling services interoperable. Interoperability rules theoretically mean that Meta apps such as WhatsApp or Messenger can demand interoperability with Apple's iMessage framework, and Apple will be forced to comply within the EU.

DMA was proposed by the European Commission in December 2020 and agreed by the European Parliament and Council in March 2022 in record time. It is now entering a six-month implementation phase and will be applicable from May 2, 2023. Thereafter, within 2 months, by July 3, 2023 at the latest, potential gatekeepers must inform the Commission of their core platform services if they meet the thresholds set by the DMA.

If Apple were designated "gatekeeper," it would have to make significant changes to its iPhone and iPad platforms to accommodate these requirements. In March, before the law was passed, Apple said it was "concerned that some provisions of DMA would create unnecessary privacy and security vulnerabilities for our users."

Apple faces similar legislation in the United States, where House members introduced antitrust legislation in June that, if passed, would lead to significant changes in the tech industry.

EU Digital Market Law comes into force on November 1: tech companies need to allow users to freely choose browsers, virtual assistants or search engines

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