Apple has asked the European Union to scrap the Digital Markets Act (DMA), a landmark law designed to rein in the power of large tech companies. The company argues that the regulation has already delayed several new iPhone features in Europe and introduces security and privacy risks by forcing interoperability with third-party software and services.
The Digital Markets Act went into effect in 2023 and was fully enforced in 2024, targeting so-called “gatekeeper” companies including Apple, Meta, Google, Amazon, and Microsoft. It requires platforms to allow rivals fairer access, prevent self-preferencing, and ensure interoperability across apps, hardware, and services. The law also empowers regulators to impose fines of up to 10% of global turnover, and 20% for repeat violations. Apple has already faced significant fines under the DMA for restricting app developers from directing users to outside payment options.
In its submission to EU regulators, Apple said the DMA is making it “harder to operate in Europe,” pointing to delays in rolling out features such as iPhone Mirroring to Mac, Live Translation on AirPods, and location-based tools in Apple Maps. The company says that some of its proposed safeguards were rejected, forcing it to choose between launching features with weaker protections or holding them back entirely. Apple maintains that this undermines its ability to deliver a seamless, secure user experience.
Apple also stressed that the requirements of the DMA threaten user privacy and device security. By mandating deeper access for third-party developers, the company argues that sensitive data and core system functions could be exposed to potential misuse. This position is consistent with Apple’s long-running stance that its closed ecosystem is essential to protecting users, even if it limits competition.
At the same time, EU regulators see the DMA as a necessary correction to market imbalances. For years, Apple’s control over the App Store, in-app payments, and device-level integration has been criticized as anti-competitive. By mandating openness, the European Commission hopes to foster more innovation and consumer choice, even if it requires large companies to compromise on some aspects of their business models.
The timing of Apple’s request is significant as the European Commission is currently conducting its first review of the DMA’s effectiveness, with particular attention on how it should adapt to emerging technologies like artificial intelligence. Apple’s push to have the regulation repealed is unlikely to succeed outright, but it may influence the debate over whether adjustments or exemptions should be considered in future revisions.
So far, the EU has shown little willingness to back down. Earlier this year, it ordered Apple to open its ecosystem further to rivals, including third-party smartwatch makers, and imposed financial penalties for non-compliance. Regulators maintain that without such measures, competition in digital markets would remain stifled by the dominance of a few gatekeepers.
Apple’s appeal sets up a high-stakes clash between its model of tightly integrated hardware and software and the EU’s effort to reshape the digital economy. The outcome will determine how quickly European users get access to new features, how much control Apple can retain over its ecosystem, and whether similar laws spread beyond Europe. For now, Apple is signaling that the DMA, in its current form, is incompatible with the way it builds its products.
