Summary
- The EU now says Apple must bring its iPad tablet line into compliance with its DMA rules.
- The iPad should benefit from sideloading apps and the ability to uninstall more preloaded apps.
- Apple now has six months to bring iPadOS into compliance, which it has already done for iOS and the iPhone.
For years, the Apple ecosystem has presented itself as a fortress, closed and isolated. However, European DMA rules, which came into force on March 7 this year, forced the iPhone maker to open its doors. This policy change, including allowing sideloading of apps on iOS, marks a significant shift for Apple. Moreover, the iPhone is not the only one affected. European lawmakers are now setting their sights on the iPad, with the aim of subjecting it to the same DMA rules.
Google’s changes to the Play Store and search were not enough to avoid further scrutiny from the DMA
Alphabet, Apple and Meta already under investigation for non-compliance in the EU
As Bloomberg reports, Apple’s iPad has been added to the growing list of “gateway” products that must meet EU DMA obligations. Among other things, this means that Apple will have to introduce app sideloading features to its tablet, mirroring the changes made to iPhones. Additionally, iPad users will have the ability to uninstall additional preloaded apps, giving them more control over their devices.
Apple has six months to adapt its tablet ecosystem to meet the requirements of the EU DMA. Failure to do so could result in significant financial penalties, with the EU saying non-compliant companies could face fines of up to 10% of their global turnover.
Apple has six months to make the iPad compatible with DMA
EU Competition Commissioner Margrethe Vestager said subjecting the iPad to the DMA preserved fairness and competition in the market. Given that the ripple effects of the DMA have already hit Apple’s iOS, App Store, and Safari, it’s no surprise to see iPadOS added to the bandwagon. Vestager says: “iPadOS provides an important gateway that many businesses rely on to reach their customers. »
Despite Apple’s compliance with DMA rules in the EU, the company filed a lawsuit with the EU General Court in Luxembourg to challenge certain legal designations. For example, Apple claims that certain DMA requirements compromise the security of its devices and put user data at risk.
European lawmakers have designated Apple, Alphabet, Meta, Amazon, Microsoft and ByteDance as “gatekeeper” companies, meaning their market capitalization exceeds 75 billion euros ($81.7 billion) and their platforms have at least 45 million monthly active users in the EU. Companies that obtain the gatekeeper label are required to comply with DMA rules.
As we previously reported, the EU’s DMA rules for default browsers are working, leading to an increase in the region’s user base for smaller web browser apps. Additionally, with Apple opening up its ecosystem, more retro game emulators are coming to the App Store.
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