Apple''s Counterattack: "Greater User Harm"
EU: DMA Is an ''Unstoppable Flow''
The European Union firmly rejected Apple''s demand to abolish the Digital Markets Act (DMA). Apple claimed through public letters and blog posts that "DMA actually damages European user experience and amplifies security threats," but the EU Commission responded: "Apple has opposed every DMA provision to the end — we have absolutely no intention of abolishing it."
DMA, enacted by the EU in 2022, aims to curb excessive market dominance by big tech platforms and create an environment where SMEs and startups can compete. "Gatekeepers" (Apple, Google, Meta, Amazon, etc.) are restricted from using dominant positions to impose discriminatory conditions in core services including app stores, messengers, and browsers. Apple has continuously clashed with the EU over App Store fees, device interoperability, and default browser options. Apple received approximately $570M in fines for anti-competitive behavior and is currently pursuing an appeal.
Apple''s core argument: "The law weakens user security." Concerns include: increased fraud risk from allowing external app installation; weakened data security from disrupted integrated security systems; user experience degradation from the controlled Apple ecosystem breaking down. Apple submitted official opinions during the EU DMA public comment period ending September 24 while urging on its blog that "regulators should re-examine actual side effects DMA is causing to European consumers'' daily lives."
EU Commission spokesperson Thomas Regnier categorically stated: "Apple has disputed every DMA provision since it took effect and delayed with time. But we will absolutely never abolish this law." This issue also functions as a political-trade negotiation tool: the EU has imposed massive fines on US big tech and is reportedly using them as US-EU trade negotiation cards. Trump has strongly protested "excessive fines on US companies are unfair." The EU-Apple confrontation shows the typical front line of the big tech regulation era: EU goals of securing fair competition in the digital economy vs. Apple''s claim that integrated ecosystems are essential for security and experience. DMA is the "cornerstone of unwavering big tech regulation" — it remains to be seen whether DMA truly creates fair competition and a safe digital ecosystem, or triggers user inconvenience and security risks as Apple warns.
