EU opens probe into Apple's compliance with Digital Markets Act, focusing on app uninstallation and default settings. (Apple)
Apple is facing renewed scrutiny from the European Union (EU), following the implementation of the Digital Markets Act (DMA) earlier this year. The DMA, which came into effect with a deadline of March 6, aims to foster a more user-friendly environment in the tech industry, emphasizing interoperability and an open ecosystem where consumers can freely choose their preferred applications.
While Apple has made efforts to comply with certain aspects of the DMA, such as supporting alternative app marketplaces and allowing third-party browsers, concerns have been raised regarding its Photos app.
On March 25, the European Commission (EC) announced an investigation into Apple, Google, and Meta for alleged non-compliance with the DMA. Specifically, Apple is being scrutinized for three issues outlined by the EC: enabling users to easily uninstall software applications on iOS, facilitating the changing of default settings on iOS, and providing choice screens for selecting alternative default services like browsers or search engines on iPhones.
According to analysis by John Gruber of Daring Fireball, one of the EC's concerns relates to the Photos app. EC's Executive Vice President, Margrethe Vestager, noted that Apple has failed to make certain apps, including Photos, uninstallable, and has restricted users from changing default settings, as mandated by the DMA.
However, allowing users to delete the Photos app presents a significant challenge for Apple due to its deep integration within the iOS operating system. The app not only serves as a gallery for viewing photos but also grants access to third-party apps for security purposes and integrates with iCloud for sharing photos. Any attempt to make the Photos app uninstallable would necessitate a major overhaul of the iOS system.
With the non-compliance investigation underway, the EC aims to reach a resolution within 12 months. If Apple is found to have violated DMA regulations, it could face fines of up to 20 percent of its total worldwide revenue. In severe cases, the EC may require the company to divest certain business segments or prohibit it from acquiring related services until compliance is achieved.
