Apple with harsh criticism of the DMA: Innovation slowed down, EU report a “self-medicating defense” | News

Hardly any company is as concerned about its external image as Apple. The company thinks very carefully about which statements are made to the public and often decides not to comment on controversial points at all. If the company goes on the offensive to actively present its view on a matter, this represents an exception to the rule. The Digital Markets Act (DMA) succeeds in exactly that: the EU regulation sometimes seems to provoke Cupertino so much that some quite harsh comments follow. Kyle Andeer, who is responsible for product and regulatory laws at Apple, now speaks in an interview with Handelsblatt.

EU report: According to Apple, a “self-medicating defense”
Is the DMA a successful model? In a first interim report, the EU Commission comes to this conclusion: gatekeepers are no longer allowed to bundle personal data across platforms without the user’s consent and switching between services and devices is now much easier. Andeer, however, takes a critical view of the report: Apple hoped that the review would be “an occasion for sober reflection.” Instead, the result is “a kind of self-therapeutic defense.” This doesn’t come as a surprise to Andeer, after all, the EU simply evaluated its own work. He emphasizes several times how disappointed Apple is – even though the DMA has not yet affected the group’s sales.

Apple: DMA hinders data protection and innovation
Andeer once again asserts Apple’s position: The radical measures that came with the DMA, in his view, hindered Cupertino’s innovative strength and data protection ambitions. The requirement for interoperability is particularly problematic: Apple, for example, has to release certain data for companies like Meta (see here). Not surprisingly, other alternative app platforms are a thorn in the side because of problems with gambling and pornography. However, the argument is on shaky ground, especially since apps that have fraudulent intentions or reproduce pornographic content repeatedly appear in Apple’s in-house store.

Andeer complains about the EU’s focus on Apple
Andeer is of the opinion that the DMA is in the wrong department: Currently only competition watchdogs are taking a look at the matter. He also expresses his lack of understanding as to why only Apple has to share innovations. This argument also seems strange: Other large companies such as Microsoft and Google were also classified as gatekeepers in some areas.