The European Commission has called on Apple to fulfil its responsibilities regarding interoperability as stipulated in the Digital Markets Act (“DMA”). Under the DMA, Apple is required to provide access (free and effective interoperability) to external developers and hardware manufacturers, to software controlled by Apple’s iOS and iPadOS operating systems identified within the DMA framework.
“The EU’s enforcement of the DMA recommendations and the recent move to force Apple to integrate with other companies’ devices represents a huge change in the operation of the iOS system. This change may expose iOS users to increased privacy-related risks, potentially weakening Apple’s long-standing commitment to privacy and security issues. Although this is aimed at promoting innovation and creating competition in the European market, the recommendations raise concerns about the privacy of iOS users. Apple’s ecosystem has been designed to tightly control access to its software and hardware, primarily for privacy and security reasons,” warns Wojciech Głażewski, Country Manager of Check Point Software Technologies, specializing in cybersecurity.
The proceeding on the specification formalizes the regulatory dialogue between the Commission and Apple regarding some specific areas of Apple’s compliance with Article 6.7 DMA. According to Article 8.2 DMA, the Commission can, on its own initiative, adopt a decision specifying the measures that a company must implement in order to ensure effective compliance with the relevant DMA obligations, such as the obligation of interoperability specified in Article 6 of the DMA.
Apple’s action to comply with the EU recommendations so far has been assessed by competitors as “malicious compliance”. In June 2024, the Commission issued preliminary findings that Apple failed to fulfill its obligations under the DMA. According to available information, the failure to comply with DMA recommendations may be subject to a fine of up to 10 percent of the company’s annual revenue.
DMA recommendations were adopted in order to promote competition among companies regarded as digital gatekeepers. The Commission stated last September that Alphabet (Google), Amazon, Apple, ByteDance, Meta (Facebook), and Microsoft are covered by this law.
In order to ensure interoperability with other companies’ hardware and services, including devices like watches, headphones, and headset sets (VR), Apple’s iOS system is required. The EU also ordered Apple to open its App Store to third parties, which also raises concerns as Apple no longer controls the privacy and security ecosystem of the apps. Apple argues that by allowing deeper integration with other companies’ devices and services, security breaches increase. Apple has built its reputation on user privacy, often praising it as a distinguishing feature from the competition, but little is known about how Apple uses this data.
In response to the EU’s actions, Apple emphasized that opening access could provide cybercriminals with greater opportunities to breach users’ data security, especially as the number of malicious apps in the App Store has increased.
“A large risk to privacy is that third-party devices or apps may not meet the rigorous data protection standards that Apple enforces in its own ecosystem. This can lead to an increase in apps or devices collecting more users’ personal data than expected, including location data, health status information, or confidential communication content. Without full Apple control, the effectiveness of privacy protections, such as app tracking transparency or data encryption, may be reduced,” adds Głażewski from Check Point.
On the other hand, proponents of the DMA argue that greater competition can lead to alternative solutions better focused on privacy, as external developers will have access to the development of innovative solutions in the Apple ecosystem. However, the challenge remains to ensure that new market participants adhere to high security standards.
Source: https://managerplus.pl/ke-wzywa-apple-do-dalszego-otwierania-ios-czy-to-dobry-pomysl-z-perspektywy-uzytkownikow-83850
