EU Antitrust Regulators to Assess Apple’s iPad OS Compliance

By Foo Yun Chee and Sudip Kar-Gupta

BRUSSELS (Reuters) – EU antitrust regulators will evaluate whether Apple (NASDAQ:AAPL)'s operating system for iPads adheres to the bloc's landmark regulations aimed at curtailing Big Tech's power, according to a statement from the European Commission on Monday.

The action by the EU executive, which enforces competition within the bloc, follows Apple's submission of a compliance report for its iPad OS. The commission designated this OS in April as a crucial gateway for businesses to connect with their customers.

"The Commission will now carefully assess whether the measures adopted for iPad OS are effective in complying with the DMA obligations," stated the EU antitrust watchdog.

Additionally, the Commission's evaluation will incorporate feedback from interested stakeholders.

Apple did not immediately respond to requests for comment.

The Digital Markets Act (DMA), enacted earlier this year, mandates Apple to:
– Allow users to set their preferred default web browser on iPads,
– Permit alternative app stores on its operating system,
– Enable headphones and smart pens to utilize iPad OS features.

Violations of the DMA could result in fines up to 10% of a company’s global annual revenue.