Apple has announced that new software and potentially hardware features will be delayed in EU countries due to the European Union’s Digital Markets Act (DMA). The company claims this antitrust law creates privacy issues. Here are the details.
Apple will wait to introduce many innovations
Apple cites privacy concerns as the primary reason why features like iPhone Mirroring and AirPods Live Translate have not been made available in the EU. According to the company, DMA’s requirement that such features be made available to third-party hardware puts user data at risk, and finding a secure solution is time-consuming.
Some delayed features:
- iPhone Mirroring: Delayed in the EU due to a lack of a secure transmission path to non-Apple devices.
- AirPods Live Translate: It was stated that opening user conversations to third-party devices to protect their privacy presents engineering challenges.
- Maps Features: It has been reported that some Maps features that store location data on the device have also been delayed for security reasons.
Apple argues that DMA is counterproductive rather than promoting competition. The company argues that the feature delays are depriving EU users of options available in the rest of the world, making iOS seem like Android.
Apple also criticizes the EU’s decision to declare itself a “gatekeeper” and subject it to strict regulations, while exempting competitors like European market leader Samsung from these rules as “unfair competition” and is demanding a revision of the law. The company warned that even future hardware launches could be affected if the regulations are tightened.
