Apple has appealed the European Union’s interoperability requirements under the Digital Markets Act (DMA). The company called the EU rules “deeply flawed” and said they pose a threat to user security.

Apple’s appeal and EU demands

Apple filed a complaint with the EU General Court in Luxembourg on May 30 challenging the Commission’s March decision, which requires Apple to make iOS more compatible with rival products, including smartwatches, headsets and VR headsets.

Under the DMA, Apple must give third-party developers access to iOS features that are typically exclusive to its own products, including allowing notifications to appear on rival wearables. The rules also require faster data transfers and easier device pairing for non-Apple hardware.

Apple argues that the requirements force it to share sensitive user data with rivals and create security risks. The company specifically highlighted competitors’ requests for access to notification content and full WiFi network histories “that Apple doesn’t even see.”

“At Apple, we design our technology to work seamlessly together. EU interoperability requirements threaten that foundation and create a process that is unreasonable, costly, and stifles innovation,” an Apple spokesperson said.

The tech giant claims that some companies are using DMA to bypass EU data protection standards. Apple has assigned 500 engineers to work on DMA compliance and has launched a developer portal for interoperability requests.

Companies that violate DMA rules face fines of up to 10% of their annual worldwide revenue. In extreme cases, the Commission can also order company splits.

So what do you, our valued readers, think about this? Will this friction between Apple and the EU continue, or will one side take a more conciliatory path? Let us know what you think in the comments!