The European Union has made an effort to advance toward implementing curbs on large technology firms through the Digital Markets Act (DMA). It has now turned its attention to Apple, with the EU starting two ‘specification proceedings’ to explain to the iPhone-maker how it can meet certain aspects of the DMA’s interoperability provisions.
The Digital Markets Act which was enacted early this year was specifically designed to further the notion of fair competition while also targeting anticompetitive behaviors in the digital domain. Apple is one of the seven EU gatekeepers that is regulated by this pan-EU regulation, and the company has been in trouble since the Commission started its first non- compliance proceeding in March.
The Power of the Digital Markets Act
It is the European Commission’s duty under the Digital Markets Act to enforce compliance with the rules by the gatekeepers and if they fail to do so, the Commission may impose fines of up to 10% of their total annual worldwide revenues. The clause described above is quite a big amount which serves as a deterrent on entities such as Apple to ensure they observe the provisions of the DMA.
After Apple released a DMA Compliance Plan in June, which has resulted in the preliminary breach find out, it has suggested many changes to the plan; However, the EU appears ready to interfere even further in the merits of interoperability. Critics have had some worries as to how Apple has been conducting its operations in the DMA especially the information screens Icon which is displayed to the iOS users whenever they wish to shift from Apple technologies to others.
Focusing on Interoperability
The two new proceedings that have been launched by the EU will centre the teaching of Apple on how to share the pipelines that would allow connectivity to connected devices that are desiring to get on to iOS connectivity features including notifications and pairing. The Commission also envisages to provide directions to Apple on how to address interoperability request from app developers for software for its mobile and tablet platforms, iOS and iPadOS which have been categorized as “core platform services” under DMA.
The first proceeding shall focus on several iOS connectivity features and integrations mostly utilized by connected peripherals including smartwatch, headphones, and virtual reality headset devices. These devices depend on the efficiency of the integration with smartphone and their operating systems. The Commission wants to detail the manner in which Apple can ensure interoperable with services such as notifications, device pairing, and connectivity.
Ensuring Transparency and Fairness
The second proceeding will involve the procedure that Apple has set to deal with interopability demands that have been forwarded by developers and third parties to iOS and IpadOS. The responsibility of developing and implementing a clear, efficient, and fair request process is an important priority of the Commission so as to provide developers with a clear and consistent means to attain the goal of adding new technologies with interoperability.
Apple has boasted of having developed more than 250000 APIs, which let developers design applications that interact with its operating systems and services while preserving users’ privacy and data security. That’s why the company also came up with options for apps in the European Union to ask for more compatibility with iOS and iPadOS as part of efforts to meet the DMA. But Apple has also urged that repealing those protections will endanger European customers and give the wrongdoers more methods to invade their gadgets and data.
The Road Ahead
The Commission expects the conclusion of these two proceedings within the next six months, after which it will send the so-called ‘opening recommendations’ to Apple, detailing measures which the company is forecasted to undertake to fully comply with DMA’s interoperability obligation. Information on the EU’s findings will also be released during that time and a summary will also be provided.
In addition, it shall be pointed out that these two new proceedings under the Digital Markets Act with regard to Apple do not equal the end of the other ongoing non-compliance proceeding on the company. The decision that was made in Apple’s case is that it could still become exposed to a DMA enforcement decision and possible penalties in the future.
