The European competition authorities on Thursday launched a procedure to ensure that Apple complies with key rules that require it to open up its closed ecosystem to competitors or risk a hefty fine.
In the so-called specification procedure, the European Commission will lay down what Apple must do to comply with the Digital Markets Act (DMA), which came into force last year.
“Today marks the first time that we are using specification procedures under the DMA to guide Apple in effectively complying with its interoperability obligations through a constructive dialogue,” said Margrethe Vestager, the EU’s chief competition officer, in a statement.
According to the EU competition watchdog, the first procedure focuses on iOS connectivity features and functionalities for smartwatches, headphones, virtual reality headsets and other internet-connected devices.
This outlines how Apple will provide effective interoperability with features such as notifications, device pairing, and connectivity.
The second process concerns how Apple handles interoperability requests submitted by developers and third parties for iOS and iPadOS. The company must ensure a transparent, timely and fair process.
The Commission aims to complete both procedures within six months.
Apple said it would continue to work constructively with the Commission, but also warned of the risks.
“Undermining the protections we have built up over time puts European consumers at risk, giving bad actors more opportunities to access their devices and data,” the statement said.
Apple faces fines of up to 10% of its annual global turnover if it fails to comply with the DMA.
© Thomson Reuters 2024
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