Digital rights advocacy organizations contend that Apple has failed to comply with its interoperability obligations under the EU's Digital Markets Act

Apple's interoperability efforts aren't meeting spirit or letter of EU law, advocacy groups argue

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2025-01-16 10:30:06

Digital rights advocacy organizations contend that Apple has failed to comply with its interoperability obligations under the EU's Digital Markets Act (DMA).

The groups made their case in a letter [PDF] asking competition watchdogs to do more to ensure Apple's compliance with the Article 6(7) of the DMA.

The letter is the work of four groups - the Free Software Foundation Europe, freedom of expression advocates ARTICLE 19, European Digital Rights, and Data Rights - plus three independent researchers.

Article 6(7) matters because it requires companies designated as gatekeepers – Alphabet, Amazon, Apple, ByteDance, Meta, and Microsoft – to provide non-discriminatory access to, or interoperation with, designated software and hardware, to promote competition.

In September 2024, the commission opened two proceedings against Apple covering its interoperability obligations with regard to iOS connectivity features like the peer-to-peer file exchange tech AirDrop and how the iCompany should accommodate developer requests for interoperability.