EU sends Apple first DMA interoperability instructions for apps and devices

Apple’s Likely Response and Business Tradeoffs

• Some expect Apple to disable or withhold advanced features in the EU to avoid DMA gatekeeper obligations, even at the cost of reduced local sales.
• Others argue Apple can’t realistically forgo a ~20–25% revenue region and will ultimately comply, as with USB‑C and previous EU demands.
• Evidence cited that Apple already geoblocks or delays features in Europe (AI rollout, iPhone mirroring, default navigation app).
• There’s debate whether “crippling EU devices” would meaningfully hurt Apple’s global business versus preserving its preferred, vertically integrated model.

Regulation, Activism, and Consumer Choice

• One camp sees DMA as activist‑driven overreach: consumers can “vote with their wallet,” and Apple isn’t a monopoly because Android exists.
• Opponents counter that in a de facto duopoly, choice is constrained and regulatory standards (defaults, APIs, interoperability) are a normal government function.
• Some EU users say forced interop is a major quality‑of‑life win; others worry about a vocal minority imposing preferences on an apathetic majority.

Interoperability in Practice (Smartwatches, Apps, Accessories)

• Strong focus on Apple Watch vs third‑party watches: Apple’s private APIs give its own devices deep integration (notifications, health, navigation) that Garmin, Pebble, etc. can’t match on iOS.
• Several note those same third‑party devices work much better on Android, which is cited as proof Apple is using platform control to self‑preference accessories.
• Similar complaints around ebooks (no default reader choice), navigation defaults, and iOS‑level restrictions that block otherwise simple user preferences.

Open APIs vs Vertical Integration and Innovation

• Critics of DMA say public, regulated APIs slow iteration and complicate breaking changes; Apple’s tight control lets them rapidly tweak protocols (e.g., for battery life) without worrying about third‑party breakage.
• Others respond that versioning, deprecation, and planned migrations are standard engineering practice; a trillion‑dollar firm can absorb the extra work, and interoperability benefits outweigh the cost.

DMA Scope, Limits, and Fairness Argument

• Multiple commenters stress DMA does not forbid Apple’s own integration, only forbids giving Apple‑branded devices privileged OS access unavailable to competitors.
• The “market” in question is defined as accessories and services sold into the iPhone user base, where Apple is both gatekeeper and competitor.
• Some lament DMA doesn’t go further (e.g., requiring hardware docs so Linux or other OSes can run on Apple devices), but others say that’s outside this law’s scope.

Broader Political and Geopolitical Context

• Several EU commenters note growing distrust of US tech giants and see DMA as part of strategic digital autonomy, alongside fears about foreign control of communications in future conflicts.
• There’s tension between support for free trade and a perceived need for Europe to cultivate its own tech ecosystem rather than remain dependent on US (or Chinese/Russian) platforms.