Apple has called for sweeping changes to the European Union’s Digital Markets Act (DMA), warning that without revisions it may halt shipments of some products to the bloc. The move marks the company’s strongest challenge yet to regulations aimed at curbing the power of major technology platforms.
In a submission to the European Commission, Apple said the DMA’s requirements were placing “unworkable burdens” on its operations. The company argued that rules obliging it to open up access to technologies and user data raised “serious privacy and security risks.” It added that several new features, including iPhone screen mirroring and real-time AirPods translation, have been delayed in Europe because of compliance concerns.
“The Apple Watch, introduced over a decade ago, might not have been viable today under these rules,” the company wrote, underscoring what it described as the DMA’s chilling effect on innovation. Apple also accused regulators of uneven enforcement, claiming rivals such as Samsung faced lighter obligations despite offering comparable services.
The DMA, which came into force in 2022, was designed to limit the dominance of “gatekeeper” platforms and increase consumer choice. It imposes obligations on interoperability, prohibits self-preferencing, and carries fines for non-compliance. Apple has already faced a €500 million penalty this year over its App Store practices, which it is appealing, and has lodged separate challenges against orders requiring greater device compatibility.
European regulators have not yet formally responded to Apple’s latest submission, but the company’s threat to pull products has already sparked debate across Brussels. Consumer groups argue the DMA ensures fairer access to markets and prevents lock-in, while technology analysts note that Apple’s ecosystem control has long been at the heart of EU scrutiny.
The dispute comes as the European Commission prepares for a review of the DMA’s early implementation, with companies, policymakers, and advocacy groups submitting evidence. Apple’s intervention signals that the standoff between regulators and Silicon Valley over the future of digital markets is far from resolved.
