EU Commission proposes ways Apple can ensure iOS and iPadOS interoperability

Back in September, the European Commission (EC) initiated two proceedings to nudge Apple into making iOS and iPadOS more friendly with third-party products under the Digital Markets Act (DMA). The EC has now shared several draft measures to help make iOS and iPadOS more interoperable.

These include allowing notifications to third-party devices like smartwatches, wireless headphones and VR headsets. Apple is also expected to bring AirPlay and AirDrop, automatic audio switching, automatic Wi-Fi connection and improved iOS data transfers and proximity pairing. The EC also wants Apple to open up background activity execution so third-party devices and services can maintain Bluetooth and network connections.

Apple should open iOS features like notifications, AirPlay, and AirDrop to third-party devices, enhancing innovation and user choice. – EU Commission

The goal of this initiative is for Apple to open up the advantages of its ecosystem to third-party devices and services but Cupertino feels like these measures would present more danger, specifically from the likes of “data-hungry companies” like Meta. Apple issued a white paper titled “It’s getting personal” (PDF) which goes into detail how the proposed measures by the EC could result in fewer protections on user data.

If Apple were to have to grant all of these requests, Facebook, Instagram, and WhatsApp could enable Meta to read on a user’s device all of their messages and emails, see every phone call they make or receive, track every app that they use, scan all of their photos, look at their files and calendar events, log all of their passwords, and more. This is data that Apple itself has chosen not to access in order to provide the strongest possible protection to users. – Apple White Paper

The EC is now requesting feedback from third-party companies that want interoperability with Apple devices until January 9, 2025. That feedback can change the proposed interoperability recommendations. The EC will then finalize the set of measures, which are expected to be published before March 2025. Per the DMA, failure to comply with the final proceedings will result in a fine that can go up to 10% of Apple's global annual turnover.

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