Apple has formally requested that the European Union repeal the Digital Markets Act (DMA), arguing that its implementation has not fostered competition but instead created new vulnerabilities for users. In a 25-page submission to the European Commission during an official review procedure, the company claimed that the measures imposed have weakened device security and introduced unnecessary risks.
One of the most controversial provisions is the requirement to allow alternative app stores on iPhones and iPads, in addition to Apple’s App Store. According to Apple, this forced opening has had harmful consequences. “The European Commission has used the DMA to create a more complex and less reliable system, opening the door to fraud, malware, and new categories of apps such as pornography, which we had never allowed and which expose children to unprecedented risks,” the company said.
Apple also denounces unequal treatment compared to other market players. While Apple was classified as a “gatekeeper” and subjected to intense scrutiny, Samsung —the leading smartphone vendor in Europe— was not given the same designation. The company notes that it has faced disproportionate enforcement, with the Commission launching five cases against it, “more than against all other companies combined.”
Apple also criticizes the speed of decisions against it, pointing out that investigations into other tech giants have advanced more slowly while Brussels has pressed forward with what Apple calls a campaign to redesign the iPhone. In April of this year, Apple was fined €500 million for allegedly preventing app developers from directing users to alternative, potentially cheaper offers outside the App Store. The company described the fine as “unprecedented” and part of a broader pattern of regulatory overreach.
Apple further argues that the constant threat of fines has delayed or even blocked the rollout of certain new features in the European Union. As an example, it cited the live translation function of conversations in multiple languages available on the latest generation of AirPods. Apple stressed that opening the system to third-party headphones could create the risk of other brands accessing private conversations.
“We designed Live Translation so that conversations remain private, processed directly on the device without Apple having any access,” the company explained in a blog post. Its engineering teams are now working on technical solutions to ensure this privacy while preventing data from being shared with other manufacturers or developers. The dispute between Apple and the European Commission underscores the growing tension between big tech companies and EU regulators, reflecting a struggle to balance innovation, user privacy, and the need for more open and competitive digital markets.
