Apple has launched a major court battle against the EU’s Digital Markets Act, arguing that interoperability rules and App Store regulations threaten user privacy and property rights.
Apple has launched a fierce legal challenge against the European Union’s Digital Markets Act (DMA), accusing regulators of imposing “hugely onerous and intrusive burdens” that breach the company’s rights within the EU market.
During a high-profile hearing at the General Court in Luxembourg, Apple’s lawyer Daniel Beard argued that the DMA’s interoperability and access requirements threaten user privacy, security, and intellectual property protections.
Beard told the court: “The legislation ignores the protection of property rights and issues of privacy and security, which are vital to EU citizens.”
The DMA, introduced in 2023, aims to curb the dominance of Big Tech “gatekeepers” such as Apple, Google, Amazon, Meta, and Microsoft by forcing them to make their platforms more open to competitors.
The law requires companies to allow interoperability with rival hardware and software, share data with third parties, and ensure users can uninstall preloaded apps or switch default services freely.
Apple is challenging the law on three key fronts: new interoperability rules requiring iPhones to work seamlessly with third-party hardware like earbuds or smartwatches, the inclusion of its App Store under the DMA’s scope, and a probe into whether iMessage should also fall under the regulation’s remit.
The European Commission’s lawyer, Paul-John Loewenthal, countered that Apple’s dominance allows it to dictate terms to developers and consumers.
He said: “Only Apple has the keys to that walled garden.
“It decides who gets in and who can offer their products and services to iPhone users.
“And through such control, Apple has locked in more than a third of European smartphone users.”
Apple’s case marks the most significant legal test yet for the EU’s landmark tech law, which has already triggered multimillion-euro fines for Apple and Google.
A ruling in Apple’s favour could weaken the DMA’s power — but a defeat may reshape how the world’s biggest tech firms operate in Europe for years to come.
Apple launches attack on EU for Digital Markets Act
