EU competition rules require companies to ensure that rival products and services can function with their devices.
The features which are now due to arrive in 2025 include Phone Mirroring, SharePlay Screen Sharing enhancements, and Apple Intelligence. According to Apple, EU users won’t be able to access them this year, unlike in the US, because of regulatory uncertainties due to the EU’s Digital Markets Act (DMA).
Apple has said that the EU’s regulations will compromise its devices’ security, but EU officials have pushed back on that claim.
The DMA is about ensuring that big tech companies like Apple do not abuse their market dominance and close down competition, and while Apple has said that it’s committed to collaborating with the European Commission in an attempt to find a solution that doesn’t compromise on security it appears that solution may be some way off.
The European Commission and Apple have history, but despite that the EU has made it clear that Apple would be welcome if it follows its laws. However, this argument brings issues of competition, privacy and security together. It could prove a tough circle to square.
