Leaked EU Document Could Spell Major Changes for App Store, Messages, FaceTime, Browsers, and Siri

Apple could be forced to make changes to the App Store, Messages, and third-party browsers according to a leaked version of the European Union's Digital Markets Act.

According to a leaked working document intended to reflect the final version of the DMA, the EU is planning to make changes that will have a significant impact on the way that companies like Apple will have to manage their products.

The Digital Markets Act requires big tech companies to share metrics with competitors, ensure that all apps are uninstallable, and not preference their own services. Companies that fail to do so may face large fines, as high as ten percent of the company's worldwide annual turnover, or even forced disinvestment.

One of the headline parts of the DMA attempts to prompt major changes to the App Store, forcing Apple to allow users to download apps from the internet and third-party app stores and allow developers to use in-app payment systems of their choice. Amendments to the DMA aim to address browser engine gatekeeping and platform interoperability.

Provisions were added to stop companies from requiring developers to use a particular browser engine. This change would allow third-party browsers to stop using WebKit and switch to Chromium like their desktop counterparts, in order to address Apple's requirement that all browsers use its own WebKit technology.

• Should Apple Continue to Ban Rival Browser Engines on iOS?

Under certain circumstances, companies will have to ensure that their messaging, voice-calling, and video calling apps and services work with rival services and include end-to-end encryption. It is not clear how far Apple will need to make changes to its services to meet the interoperability requirements.

Users should be given the option to change the default virtual assistant to a third-party option when using it for the first time, as a result of the amendment to the DMA. There are changes to the DMA that prevent companies from giving preferential treatment to their own services.

In March, EU lawmakers approved the DMA. The European Parliament and the Council will need to approve the final document before it can come into effect. Margrethe Vestager, the digital competition chief, said last month that she expects the DMA to come into force in October.

The European Parliament voted overwhelmingly this week in favor of legislation that will force Apple to offer ausb-c port on all of its products in Europe.