Tech

EU, Apple Store infringes digital market: new investigation launched. The company: already made changes

After the Artificial Intelligence issue (which will arrive late), Brussels points the finger at the changes made to iOS

24 June 2024

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No respite. The European Union spotlights are once again on Apple, which only a few days ago announced that due to the stringent rules imposed by Brussels, its new artificial intelligence (Apple Intelligence) will not arrive in Europe. At least not right away.

Not even time to analyse the consequences of this decision, when news arrives from the EU of a new investigation against the Cupertino giant.

The European Commission has in fact informed Apple of its preliminary view that the App Store rules violate the Digital Markets Act (Dma), as they prevent app developers from freely directing consumers to alternative channels for offers and content. In addition, the Commission has opened a new non-compliance proceeding - again against Apple - over concerns that its new contractual requirements for third-party app developers and app stores, including Apple's new Core Technology Fee, fail to ensure effective compliance with the DMA.

The executive emphasised Apple's three business conditions.

"None of these commercial conditions allow developers to freely direct their customers. For example, developers cannot provide price information within the application or communicate in any other way with their customers to promote offers available on alternative distribution channels'.

An investigation that sounds a bit like a booze, towards all the efforts made by Apple, which has been trying for months to adapt its operating systems to the new European rules.

For some months now, in fact, the iPhone manufacturer has introduced some substantial innovations that have in fact opened up the famous 'closed box' of Apple systems. An opening to third-party apps and developers that the Californian company has approved of somewhat through clenched teeth, pointing out on several occasions that it is a step backwards in terms of privacy and security.

The EU's decision to open an investigation into the innovations introduced by Apple (which therefore do not seem to satisfy the regulators in Brussels) is a bit of a cold shower, because the feeling was that a compromise had been reached. Instead, the Commission is calling on Apple to make new changes and new efforts. A game still to be played.

By early afternoon came the response from the Cupertino-based company: "Over the past several months, Apple has made a number of changes to comply with the DMA in response to feedback from developers and the European Commission. We are confident that our plan complies with the law and estimate that over 99% of developers would pay Apple equal or lower fees under the new commercial terms we have created," is the official comment. "All developers operating in the EU on the App Store have the opportunity to use the features we've introduced," Cupertino adds, "including the ability to direct app users to the web to complete purchases at a very competitive price. As we have routinely done, we will continue to listen to and dialogue with the European Commission'.

Biagio SimonettaRedattore
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Lingue parlate: italiano, inglese
Argomenti: Finanza, Fintech, Silicon Valley, Tecnologia
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