Apple has intensified its criticism of the European Union’s Digital Markets Act (DMA), urging regulators to repeal the landmark law, which it claims undermines user experience and safety. The California-based company argues that the regulation not only delays new features for European customers but also places unfair and impractical burdens on its engineering teams.
In a statement on Wednesday, September 25th, Apple confirmed that the DMA has already forced it to postpone the rollout of key features in the EU, including iPhone Mirroring and Live Translation with AirPods.
“The DMA requires Apple to make certain features work on non-Apple products and apps before we can share them with our users … it’s caused us to delay some new features in the EU,” Apple said.
As part of its submission to an ongoing consultation by the European Commission, Apple went further, calling for the law’s repeal and replacement with “more suitable legislation.” The company also suggested the creation of an independent regulatory body separate from the European Commission to enforce the rules.
“Regulators claimed the DMA would promote competition and give European consumers more choices,” Apple said. “The law is not living up to those promises. In fact, it’s having some of the opposite effects.”
The DMA, which applies to so-called gatekeeper firms with vast user bases, was designed to curb the dominance of Big Tech. Of the six gatekeepers identified, five are U.S. companies, including Apple. Under the law, firms face fines of up to 10% of their global revenue for violations, rising to 20% for repeated breaches.
Apple has already faced enforcement actions under the DMA. In April, the European Commission fined the company €500 million for unfair App Store terms. Additional penalties, including one as high as $2 billion, have been levied over alleged abuse of its market position. Apple has appealed the decisions.
Apple filed its objections on the very last day of the consultation period. The European Commission will now review all submissions and present a final report to the European Parliament, the Council, and the European Economic and Social Committee by May 3, 2026. Reviews will take place every three years thereafter.
