Europe’s General Court on Wednesday dismissed Apple’s appeal against the European Commission’s decision to designate its iOS operating system and App Store as core platform services subject to the bloc’s strict Digital Markets Act (DMA).
The ruling is a significant setback for Apple in its ongoing fight against the EU’s landmark antitrust rulebook, which aims to curb the power of big tech “gatekeepers” and open up competition in app distribution, payments, and related services. Apple has argued the rules threaten user privacy and security, and it can still appeal to the EU’s highest court.
Edith Hancock for The Wall Street Journal:
Apple appealed the European Commission’s decision to label its iOS operating system and App Store as core platforms that need to follow the DMA in 2024, and also challenged the EU executive’s move to investigate whether its iMessage messaging service should also be subject to the rules. Officials ultimately dropped the latter probe.
The general court also said that Apple’s appeal regarding iMessage is inadmissible.
An Apple spokesperson said the DMA’s mandate exposes users to privacy and security risks. “We will continue advocating for the innovation and privacy our European customers deserve,” they said. The company can still appeal Wednesday’s verdict at the Court of Justice of the EU.
MacDailyNews Take: As Apple has repeatedly warned, the DMA isn’t about “competition,” it’s about regulators in Brussels forcing Apple to degrade the secure, high-quality experience that actually sets iPhone apart, all while handing advantages to companies that don’t play by the same rules. European users will ultimately pay – and already are paying – the price with worse privacy, more security headaches, and less innovation.
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