EU Requires Apple to Further Open iPhone to Third-Party Devices

The European Commission demanded Wednesday that Apple further open up the iPhone to third parties to meet the requirements of the Digital Markets Act (DMA),

“On December 18, 2024, the Commission adopted its preliminary findings, setting out the proposed measures that Apple should implement to ensure effective interoperability with iOS for connected devices,” a public version of a European Commission filing reads. “The Commission is consulting interested third parties on these measures,and in particular on their effectiveness, completeness, feasibility and implementation timelines. These measures are preliminary and might be adjusted subject to feedback from third parties and Apple as well as further investigative steps.”

In its findings, the Commission lays out 11 ways that Apple must make iOS more interoperable with third-party devices and services. In doing so, Apple will be forced to open up iOS notifications, background processes, automatic audio switching, peer-to-peer Wi-Fi connections, AirDrop, AirPlay, close-range wireless file transfers, media casting, proximity-triggered pairing, automatic Wi-Fi connections, and NFC reading and writing. And then report back to the Commission the steps it made to conform to these requirements while ensuring they don’t compromise the integrity of its platform.

There’s a lot to this, but here’s one example.

“Apple shall provide effective interoperability with the AirDrop feature,” the filing noes. “Apple shall implement an interoperability solution that provides third parties with access to the same AirDrop feature [Apple uses] in a way that is equally effective as the solution available to Apple.”

Apple’s reaction is interesting. In addition to providing a detailed public response that is mostly about pointing out that one of its competitors, Meta, is guilty of much worse crimes than it is.

“We are now seeing concrete examples of how a new approach to interoperability in the EU would put users at risk, requiring them to open their devices—and their most sensitive data—to companies with a track record of violating their privacy,” Apple writes. “The Digital Markets Act commenced earlier this year, establishing in law the concept of ‘interoperability’. The basic idea is that developers should have access to the same tools in iOS and iPadOS as Apple, in order to ensure a level playing field. Apple has always believed in that level playing field … As we strive to comply with the DMA, we carefully review each interoperability request we receive. As an example of our concerns, Meta has made 15 requests (and counting) for potentially far-reaching access to Apple’s technology stack that, if granted as sought, would reduce the protections around personal data that our users have come to expect from their devices.”

Apple then goes on to describe some of the technologies in iOS that Meta would like to access. And that, were Apple to agree to those requests, it would allow Meta to invade user privacy in ways that Apple itself does not. Meta, it says, would like access to users’ SMS and iMessage messages and history, and all the data provided by other apps on the iPhone via App Intents.

“Apple’s high standards for privacy and security are what set us apart,” the document concludes. “Our users depend on it. We want users and developers alike to benefit from the great features and functionalities of iPhone—safely. We will never abandon our bedrock commitment to our users’ privacy and security.”