Apple has filed an appeal against a European Union order that requires the company to make its iOS operating system more interoperable with rival tech products under the bloc’s sweeping Digital Markets Act (DMA), escalating tensions over how the EU seeks to rein in the power of Big Tech.
The company lodged the appeal on May 30 at the EU’s General Court in Luxembourg, challenging an earlier decision by the European Commission, which told Apple in March how it should open key parts of its iOS system to rival developers and hardware makers. The order is part of broader enforcement under the DMA, which aims to curb gatekeeping practices by dominant digital platforms.
Apple argues that the Commission’s demands go too far. In a statement Monday, the company said the EU’s interoperability requirements “threaten the foundation” of Apple’s integrated ecosystem and could “stifle innovation,” create security vulnerabilities, and compromise user privacy.
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“At Apple, we design our technology to work seamlessly together, so it can deliver the unique experience our users love and expect from our products,” a company spokesperson said. “The EU’s interoperability requirements threaten that foundation, while creating a process that is unreasonable, costly, and stifles innovation.”
The Commission’s enforcement under the DMA compels so-called “gatekeepers”—large platforms with entrenched market dominance—to ensure interoperability. In Apple’s case, that includes sharing access to parts of the iOS operating system typically reserved for its own products, such as notifications, connectivity features, and device integration protocols that enable services like pairing with third-party wearables or supporting non-Apple apps on iPhones and iPads.
According to Apple, this means giving competitors access to sensitive system-level functionalities, a move the company says risks compromising user security and data privacy.
“Companies have already requested our users’ most sensitive data—from the content of their notifications to a full history of every stored WiFi network on their device—giving them the ability to access personal information that even Apple doesn’t see,” Apple said, referring to a December 2023 request from Meta Platforms as one of the contentious examples.
The iPhone maker said it is appealing “on behalf of its users” to protect the trusted experience and security that European customers expect from its devices.
European Commission Defends Its Decision
A Commission spokesperson responded Monday, saying the DMA is legally sound and the enforcement decisions issued are “fully in line” with the regulation.
“We will defend them in Court,” the spokesperson said.
The DMA, which came into effect in March 2024, targets large tech companies identified as gatekeepers under strict criteria, including annual revenue and market dominance across digital services. Apple, Alphabet (Google), Amazon, Meta, Microsoft, and ByteDance (TikTok) are among those under direct scrutiny.
The law gives Brussels the authority to impose fines of up to 10% of a company’s worldwide annual turnover for violations. In severe or repeated cases, the Commission can go as far as to demand the breakup of parts of a business.
A Broader Fight Over Control and Privacy
Apple’s resistance reflects a broader backlash among U.S. tech giants over how the EU is enforcing the DMA. While the bloc says it is leveling the playing field and promoting competition, companies like Apple say these rules dismantle the user-focused integration that differentiates their products.
The Commission’s March instruction to Apple reportedly focused on a range of interoperability requirements, including how the iPhone interacts with third-party smartwatches, VR headsets, cloud gaming platforms, and apps distributed outside the App Store.
Apple had already begun making changes to its business model in Europe in response to the DMA—such as allowing alternative app stores and payment systems in the EU—but the latest appeal indicates it is not willing to comply without a legal challenge on key issues tied to privacy and ecosystem integrity.
The case now heads to the General Court, where Apple will seek to overturn or limit the EU’s demands. A ruling could take months or even years, but the appeal could delay the full implementation of the Commission’s order in the meantime.