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The fierce standoff between Apple and the European Union over the Digital Markets Act (DMA) has officially escalated from a war of words into a full-scale legal battle before the EU General Court in Luxembourg.
As the European Commission conducts its first formal review of the law, Bloomberg reports that Apple’s attorney, Daniel Beard, sharply criticized the DMA during a court session, calling it an “immense and intrusive burden.”
His assertive remarks echoed Apple’s consistent public stance in recent months, portraying the DMA as a piece of legislation that is “anti-consumer and anti-privacy.”
In a blog post published in September, Apple declared, “Over time, it has become evident that the Digital Markets Act does not foster a healthier market—rather, it makes doing business in Europe increasingly difficult.”
To underscore its point, Apple went so far as to cite the risk of adult content, warning of the potential dangers the DMA could introduce: “For the first time, iPhones will be able to access pornographic applications from third-party marketplaces—apps that we have never allowed on the App Store due to the risks they pose, particularly to children.”
Beyond security concerns, Apple has also attributed the delay of several highly anticipated features to the constraints imposed by the DMA.
According to the company, postponed innovations include real-time translation on AirPods, iPhone mirroring on macOS, and personalized location history and route preferences in Apple Maps—a clear attempt to frame the DMA as an obstacle to innovation.
Bloomberg’s analysis notes that Apple’s legal challenge centers on three primary areas:
- Hardware interoperability: Apple objects to DMA provisions requiring iPhones to work seamlessly with competitors’ hardware—such as headphones or smartwatches—arguing that such mandates could create serious security vulnerabilities.
- App Store regulation: The company continues to resist the classification of its App Store as a “gatekeeper” under the DMA, which would subject it to stricter oversight.
- iMessage investigation: Apple also disputes the European Commission’s inquiry into whether iMessage should fall under the Act’s regulatory scope.
In response to Apple’s fierce criticism, the European Commission has shown no signs of backing down.
Commission lawyer Paul-John Loewenthal emphasized Apple’s dominant influence across the European market, asserting that the company’s “absolute control over the iPhone” enables it to reap “supernormal profits” while stifling competition.
“Apple decides who gets access to the iPhone ecosystem and who may offer products and services to its users,” Loewenthal stated. “Through this control, Apple has effectively locked in more than one-third of all smartphone users in Europe.”
The conflict between Apple and the EU has been building for months. In September, Apple formally requested that the European Commission revoke the DMA, a proposal that was swiftly rejected. At the time, Commission spokesperson Thomas Regnier firmly responded that the EU had “no intention whatsoever” of abandoning the legislation and accused Apple of “fundamentally resisting every element of the DMA since its inception.”
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