Europe brings another Apple ‘product’ under new digital rules – Times of India

Apple’s iPadOS that powers the tech giant’s iPads must comply with all obligations under the Digital Markets Act (DMA), European Union’s (EU) antitrust regulators have said. The operating system has been designated by the commission as a gatekeeper.
The regulators have also said that they will assess whether Apple’s operating system for iPads comply with the bloc’s landmark rules.
“Apple must ensure its operating system iPadOS complies with all the relevant obligations under the Digital Markets Act (DMA). In April 2024, the Commission added Apple’s iPadOS to the list of core platform services for which Apple is designated as gatekeeper,” the European Commission said in a statement.

What next for Apple in Europe

Apple is now required to make significant changes to its iPadOS operating system, including allowing users to choose browsers, permit alternative app stores and accessory accessibility.
“Apple must, among others, allow users to set the default web browser of their choice on iPadOS, allow alternative app stores on its operating system, and allow accessory devices, like headphones and smart pens, to effectively access iPadOS features,” the Commission added.

Apple published compliance report on iPadOS
Meanwhile, Apple has also published a compliance report detailing the measures it has taken for iPadOS to comply with the DMA. The antitrust regulators will assess whether the OS complies with the bloc’s new tech rules.
The move by the EU executive, which acts as the bloc’s competition enforcer, followed Apple’s publication of a compliance report for its iPad OS, designated by the commission in April as an important gateway for businesses to reach their customers.
“The Commission will now carefully assess whether the measures adopted for iPad OS are effective in complying with the DMA obligations,” the EU antitrust watchdog said in a statement.

“The Commission’s assessment will also be based on the input of interested stakeholders,” it said.