Apple would be forced to allow sideloading and third-party app stores under new EU law

Illustration by Alex Castro / The Verge

Legislation recently unveiled by the EU would force Apple to allow users to install outside the App Store. The provision is still included in the initial proposal for the Digital Markets Act, which came one step closer to being signed into law this week.

The European Commission believes that the owner of a phone should be able to choose how to use it. The default app store on a smart phone would still be safe and secure with the help of the DMA. On top of that, if a user chooses, the DMA would allow the owner of the phone to also use other safe app stores.

In addition to allowing third-party stores on its platform, Apple would also be forced to allow users to install apps from third-party sources and to allow developers to use the App Store without using Apple's payment systems.

The European Parliament is expected to approve the DMA without much trouble. The DMA could come into force as early as October this year. EU members will be able to decide how to interpret the EU act into national law.

In the past, Apple has objected to sideloading on the iPhone, arguing that it would compromise the security of its platform. Tim Cook has argued that side loading would destroy the security of the iPhone.

Although the Mac has long allowed users to download apps from outside of Apple's official store, Apple has argued this approach isn't appropriate on the iPhone because these devices carry more sensitive information. There are a lot of ways for users to sideload apps onto an iPhone. Apple's own enterprise app program allows businesses to load on custom apps, while AltStore installs an entire third-party app store on an iPhone. TestFlight can be used to distribute apps that haven't been approved for the App Store.

The EU believes that Apple's security concerns can be mitigated by giving users the ability to choose where they install their apps. A user has to manually turn off the same features that are offered on Android in order to download apps from third-party sources.

Some provisions of the DMA will create unnecessary privacy and security vulnerabilities for our users, while others will prohibit us from charging for intellectual property in which we invest a great deal, according to Apple.