The European Union is pressing ahead with legislation to heavily regulate companies like Apple, setting plans to forcegatekeepers to open up access to hardware and software, and even set up an internal department to meet new rules, according to an endorsed agreement from the European Parliament.
The Digital Markets Act was reached earlier this week by EU governments, with 43 votes in favor, one against, and one abstention, showing a broad consensus from European lawmakers to aggressively regulate big tech companies. Apple is almost certain to be classified as agatekeeper and be affected by the regulation due to the size of its annual turnover in the EU, its ownership and operation of platforms with a large number of active users, and its entrenched and durable nature.
Apple could be forced to make changes to the App Store, Messages, and third-party browsers in Europe. It could be forced to allow users to install third-party app stores and sideload apps, give developers the ability to closely interoperate with Apple's own services and promote their offers outside the App Store.
The requirement to make messaging, voice-calling, and video-calling services interoperability is one of the more recent additions to the DMA. Apple would be forced to comply with the interoperability rules if Meta apps were allowed to request to interoperate with the iMessage framework.
Plans to establish a high-level group of central European digital regulators to coordinate national regulators across EU member states are included in the latest agreement.
In addition, new rules specifically targeted to address companies like Apple that have a dual role with control over both hardware and software look to allow any developer to gain access to any existing hardware feature.
In March, EU lawmakers approved the DMA. The proposals will be put to a final vote in the European Parliament in July and then adopted by the European Council. After 20 days, the DMA will come into force and affected companies will have six months to comply.
In addition to the European Union, Apple'secosystem is coming under intense scrutiny by governments around the world, including in the United States, the United Kingdom, Australia, Japan, South Korea, and more.
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