Apple has filed a legal challenge against specific interoperability requirements mandated by the European Union’s Digital Markets Act (DMA), according to reports from early June 2025. The tech giant submitted its appeal to the EU’s General Court in Luxembourg on May 30.
What is the DMA and Why Does it Apply to Apple?
The Digital Markets Act is a landmark EU regulation designed to curb the power of large online platforms deemed “gatekeepers” and foster a more fair and open digital market. Gatekeepers are defined by criteria such as annual turnover, market capitalisation, and providing core platform services (CPS) like app stores, browsers, or operating systems in at least three EU countries, serving a significant number of users. Apple, identified as a gatekeeper, has already made significant changes to comply with earlier DMA requirements, such as allowing third-party app stores, alternative payment methods, and different browser engines in the EU, which were implemented around March 2024 with iOS 17.4. These changes, while aimed at increasing competition and user choice, were noted to introduce potential security complexities.
Apple has also faced other conflicts with EU regulators under the DMA. On April 23, 2025, the European Commission found Apple to be non-compliant with the DMA’s anti-steering rules for the App Store and fined the company €500 million. This decision related to restrictions on how developers could inform users about alternative, potentially cheaper, purchase options outside the App Store. Apple has appealed this decision, calling it an example of the Commission unfairly targeting the company.
Interoperability Rules Under Appeal
The current legal challenge specifically targets a March decision by the European Commission requiring Apple to make its iOS operating system more compatible, or interoperable, with rival products, including smartwatches, headphones, and VR headsets.
Under these rules, Apple must grant third-party developers access to iOS features that were previously typically reserved for Apple’s own hardware. Specific requirements mentioned include enabling notifications to appear on competing wearable devices, facilitating faster data transfers for non-Apple hardware, making device pairing easier for third-party products, and integrating support for alternatives to Apple’s AirDrop and AirPlay services.
Apple’s Core Arguments
Apple has labelled the interoperability requirements as “deeply flawed” and a significant threat to user security. The company argues that these rules force it to share sensitive user data with competitors, which creates security risks.
A company spokesperson stated that Apple designs its technology to work seamlessly together and that the EU’s interoperability requirements “threaten that foundation”. They described the required process as “unreasonable, costly, and stifles innovation”.
Apple has highlighted requests from rivals for access to sensitive user data, including the content of notifications and complete WiFi network histories, data that the company claims “even Apple doesn’t see”. Apple argues that some companies are exploiting the DMA to bypass EU data protection standards. The company also claims these rules unfairly target only Apple and will severely limit its ability to provide innovative products and features in Europe, potentially leading to an inferior user experience for European customers.
Despite challenging the requirements, Apple has stated it has dedicated 500 engineers to DMA compliance efforts and launched a developer portal specifically for interoperability requests.
Context: Ongoing Tensions with the EU
This appeal is the latest development in a series of disputes between Apple and EU regulators regarding competition and market dominance. The DMA is a key tool the EU is using to ensure that dominant tech platforms, designated as gatekeepers, do not unfairly restrict competition or user choice. Companies found violating DMA rules can face substantial fines, potentially up to 10% of their worldwide annual revenue, with even business breakups possible in extreme cases of systematic infringement.
Online discussions surrounding the DMA and Apple’s compliance reflect differing perspectives. Some commentators express distrust towards companies requesting access to user data, while others see the DMA as necessary for improving Apple’s ecosystem by enabling mixed-device households. There are also conflicting views on whether the DMA is primarily aimed at supporting users or protecting European companies that struggle to compete with large American firms, with some arguing the law is focused on market interests rather than consumers, and others asserting that the concept of “market” within the DMA inherently includes consumers. Some also express greater trust in EU policies regarding user support compared to potential regulations in other regions.
The Path Ahead
The legal fight against the interoperability requirements is expected to take years to resolve in court. However, until a ruling is made, Apple will likely have to continue complying with the EU’s order.
The outcome of this appeal is significant as it could influence how the DMA is enforced across the technology industry. It highlights the ongoing tension between regulatory efforts to increase competition and user choice on one hand, and companies’ concerns about security, privacy, and the potential impact on their business models and innovation on the other.
