In September, the European Commission (EC) initiated two proceedings under the Digital Markets Act (DMA) to compel Apple to make iOS and iPadOS more compatible with third-party products. The EC has now shared several draft measures to help make iOS and iPadOS more interoperable.
These include allowing notifications for third-party devices like smartwatches, wireless headphones, and VR headsets. Apple is also expected to bring AirPlay and AirDrop, automatic audio switching, automatic Wi-Fi connections, and better iOS data transfer and proximity pairing. The EC also wants Apple to open up background activity execution so that third-party devices and services can maintain Bluetooth and network connections.
Apple should open up iOS features like notifications, AirPlay, and AirDrop to third-party devices, increasing innovation and user choice. – EU Commission
The goal of this initiative is for Apple to open up the benefits of its ecosystem to third-party devices and services, but Cupertino thinks these measures will pose more of a threat, especially from “data-hungry companies” like Meta. Apple released a white paper titled “It’s Getting Personal” (PDF) detailing how the measures proposed by the EC could result in less protection over user data.
If Apple were to grant all of these requests, Facebook, Instagram, and WhatsApp Meta would have the power to read all of their messages and emails on a user’s device, see every phone call they make or receive, and see which apps they use. Could enable tracking of every app. Scan all their photos, view their files and calendar events, log all their passwords, and much more. This is data that Apple has decided not to access in order to provide users with the strongest protection possible. – Apple White Paper
The EC is now requesting feedback from third-party companies that want interoperability with Apple devices by January 9, 2025. That feedback may change the proposed interoperability recommendations. The EC will then finalize the set of measures, which is expected to be published before March 2025. According to the DMA, failure to comply with the final proceedings will result in fines that could be up to 10% of Apple’s global annual turnover.
