European Commission announcedthat it will assess whether US technology company Apple complies with the European Union's Digital Markets Act (DMA) in relation to its iPadOS operating system.
"Apple must, among other things, allow users to set the default web browser of their choice on iPadOS, allow alternative app stores in its operating system, and allow additional devices such as headphones or smart pens to effectively access iPadOS features," the commission said in a statement.
It added that Apple published a 12-page compliance report on 1 November detailing the measures it has taken to comply with the DMA. A public version of the report is available at website DMA Commission.
In the report, the company said: "Apple is committed to conducting business ethically, honestly and in full compliance with applicable laws and regulations, including the DMA."
The Commission now "carefully assess whether the measures taken for iPadOS are effective in complying with the DMA", and added that the assessment will also be based on input from interested shareholders.
In the event that the Panel concludes that Apple's solutions are not in compliance with the DMA, it will take formal enforcement action as contemplated by the DMA, the statement said.
The DMA was enacted in November 2022 to ensure that large online platforms, the gatekeepers, behave fairly online and leave room for competition.
Apple is one of six companies appointed as gatekeepers by the DMA in September 2023.
In April 2024, the Commission added Apple's iPadOS to a list of services of the basic platform, for which Apple is the designated gatekeeper.
According to the DMA, fines for gatekeepers who fail to comply can reach up to 20 % of a company's total worldwide turnover in the event of repeated breaches.
CGTN/ gnews - RoZ
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