Apple has answered with a counterattack. After months of quiet adjustments to comply with the Digital Markets Act (DMA), the company released an unusually explicit statement: the European framework is delaying or banning advanced features in the region, opening the door to security risks and making it harder to differentiate its ecosystem from competitors. Beyond political noise, there’s a fundamental question: what do these changes practically mean for iPhone users and for the developer community in Europe?
This report breaks down Apple’s argument, contrasts the spirit of the DMA, and reviews the first visible effects: delayed Apple Intelligence features, limitations in Continuity, such as iPhone Mirroring, friction in Maps with “Visited Places” and “Preferred Routes,”
and a new landscape for alternative app stores and third-party payments, including extreme cases — like porn apps — unthinkable in the traditional App Store.
The European framework: why the DMA exists and who it monitors
The DMA was created to open up digital markets and prevent gatekeeper practices on major platforms: stopping self-preferencing, forcing interoperability where reasonable, and facilitating competition in critical areas like app stores, search engines, operating systems, or in-app payments. The European Commission designated six gatekeepers — including Apple — that must comply with positive and negative obligations within set timelines. The philosophy is clear: more contestability, less lock-in.
For users, the promise is more choice: installing apps from other markets, using alternative payment methods, and accessing interoperable services. For developers, in theory, this means fewer fees and more routes to reach customers.
Apple’s stance: privacy and security as red lines
In its statement, Apple argues that the DMA forces it to redesign sensitive functions and to expose data that even Apple itself cannot read today. Three examples illustrate its point:
- Live Translation with AirPods (Apple Intelligence). Real-time translation is designed to process on-device and preserve conversations. Moving it to other headphones or systems without opening data channels to third parties would require — according to Apple — deep re-engineering and no existing solutions meet its privacy standards.
- iPhone Mirroring on Mac. The function replicates and allows operating iPhone from macOS. Integrating it with non-Apple devices would elevate the risk of total data exposure (notifications, messages, photos), and therefore has not been enabled in the EU.
- Maps: Visited Places and Preferred Routes. These store location history locally (on-device). Sharing that data with third parties for interoperability would expose extremely sensitive information (such as routines, addresses, health centers), something the company rejects.
The company also raises a familiar concern: sideloading, alternative marketplaces, and third-party payments. Allowing stores outside the App Store with varying standards — as argued — exposes users to fraudulent apps, malware disguised as legitimate, and abusive charges with little or no recourse. Simultaneously, Apple warns of less intuitive experiences: multiple stores, different rules, and difficult-to-define responsibilities could erode the trust of the average user.
“Hot Tub” and the elephant in the room
The Hot Tub case — a Pornography app that arrived on iPhone in the EU through the alternative marketplace AltStore PAL — exemplifies Apple’s argument. The company emphasizes that it would never have allowed this app in the App Store, but the new framework enables it in parallel channels subject to notarization (basic malware reviews, fraud prevention), not Apple’s editorial policy. The tension is clear: freedom of choice versus strict curation. For families and minors, this matters.
Proponents of the DMA argue that the choice belongs to the user (to install or not that store), that national laws still apply (such as restrictions on gambling), and that competition doesn’t mean “anything goes”: the Commission can monitor and penalize marketplaces that violate regulations.
Less functions in Europe? The cost of lasting interoperability
The most sensitive issue for consumers is losing features or receiving them later than the rest of the world. Apple lists delays and absences in AirPods with Apple Intelligence, iPhone Mirroring, and Maps. Beyond rhetoric, there’s a real trade-off: the more regulators enforce interoperability with systems not controlled by the manufacturer, the harder it becomes to maintain the privacy and security standards that the company promises.
The key question is: how does Europe define “interoperability provided”? Is it requiring that a feature exist on all devices, or only opening APIs and conditions for others to connect without sacrificing guarantees? The letter and especially the interpretation of the DMA during implementation will determine whether these delays are transient or structural.
App stores, payments, and the new user friction
With alternative marketplaces already operating, iPhone users in the EU have gained new pathways to install apps and pay differently. The downside is that the experience shifts from “a trusted site” to “several sites with varying standards”. For tech-savvy users, this is a natural step; for the general public, it means more decisions and more risks.
Recent history from other platforms shows patterns that Europe must monitor: fake banking apps impersonating institutions, repositories relaxing filters based on volume, payment systems masking commissions or limiting refunds. Apple claims that its review standards and editorial policies protected users from these scenarios. The DMA doesn’t eliminate the responsibility of new store operators; it shifts it and distributes it. Regulatory success will depend on how promptly and effectively these new players respond when issues arise.
Less differentiation or more competition?
Another argument from Apple: less differentiation. If iOS must resemble Android in stores and payments, it loses traits that made it unique. This isn’t just marketing; it impacts incentives and business models. For the EU, however, aligning certain access conditions doesn’t eliminate competition: it levels the playing field in services, privacy, performance, integration, and design.
The European Commission insists that the DMA isn’t intended to level down but to remove barriers. If Apple continues offering superior chips, cameras, battery life, cohesive hardware-software, and verifiable privacy, it will maintain its differentiation. The friction arises when this differentiation relies on locks that prevent third-party competition.
Only Apple? The debate over regulatory asymmetry
Apple criticizes the DMA for “pointing at” it when others hold significant market share in Europe (e.g., Samsung in smartphones) and Chinese manufacturers are growing rapidly. Legally, the response is that the DMA designates gatekeepers based on objective criteria (scale, access control, market impact) and applies obligations to all designated entities — not just Apple — though each case has different remedies depending on position and service.
In practice, Apple does face profound changes because its integrated hardware-software-services model concentrates many of the frictions that the DMA aims to alleviate.
So, what’s next? Three scenarios for the next 12–18 months
- Pragmatic convergence. Apple and Brussels adjust their interpretations: Apple opens APIs and options without sacrificing its privacy standards, and gradually implements Live Translation, iPhone Mirroring, and Maps in versions compatible with the DMA. Users regain features, with clear opt-ins and security seals.
- Regulatory deadlock. The mandated interoperability clashes with real technical limits; Apple maintains vetoes or delays in the EU, pushing users towards its App Store and payments as the “safer way”. The outcome: a fragmented Europe with capped iPhones and a more segmented market.
- Responsible competition. Alternative marketplaces mature: they curate catalogs, certify security, and respond to incidents. The European Commission enforces standards and audits, increasing trust in the ecosystem. Apple preserves its premium offering, but no longer monopolizes distribution channels.
Likely, the outcome will blend elements of all three scenarios. The final result depends on three balances: (a) privacy vs. interoperability; (b) child protection vs. freedom of choice; and (c) competition vs. user experience quality.
What this means for users: a quick reference guide
- Delayed or missing features. Some functionalities of Apple Intelligence, Continuity, and Maps could arrive later or not at all while negotiations determine how to interoperate without exposing data.
- More installation choices. You can continue using the App Store or try out alternative marketplaces. If you choose that route, get informed: who manages the store?, what filters do they apply?, what support do they offer?
- Alternate payment options. These might lower fees or offer local payment methods, but always review refund policies and support systems.
- Parental controls and profiles. For households with minors, strengthen controls, consider profiles and restrictions, and avoid parallel stores on children’s devices.
- Privacy considerations. Review permissions and policies: where is data processed, how long is it stored, and what does each app or store share?
Implications for developers and companies
- More distribution channels: less dependence on a single store but more support, QA, and compliance costs across multiple channels.
- Payments and pricing: opportunities to optimize commissions, but also new risks related to charges, refunds, and fraud prevention.
- Compliance: especially important if working with sensitive data (health, finance, minors), where data chain and data location matter more than ever.
- Marketing: without the curation of the App Store, visibility will depend on ASO, marketplace partnerships, and reputation.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why are some Apple functions unavailable in the EU?
Because their current design — according to Apple — relies on keeping data on-device and closing access to third parties. Complying with interoperability demands without exposing sensitive content (notifications, locations) requires more engineering or architecture changes that are not yet resolved.
Is installing apps from alternative stores more dangerous?
It depends on which store and what controls they implement. Some can offer serious curation and support; others might relax filters and open the door to scams or malware. As a user, it’s advisable to assess reputation, refund policies, anti-fraud systems, and transparency of each marketplace.
Does the DMA reduce innovation by forcing Apple to look like Android?
The DMA does not dictate designs nor prohibit innovation; it limits gatekeeper behavior and opens access to third parties. Apple can continue to differenciate in chips, cameras, software, and privacy. The challenge is which aspects of its ecosystem relied on locks that now conflict with the new rules.
Will there be more adult content or gambling apps on iPhone because of the DMA?
Potentially, if these apps are installed through alternative stores that Apple doesn’t endorse in its App Store. Existing national laws and marketplace responsibilities still apply. To control what’s accessible at home, use parental controls, profiles, and restrictions on marketplace installs.