In a move that’s sent shockwaves through the technology sector, Apple has publicly urged the European Union to repeal its flagship Digital Markets Act (DMA), arguing the law is stifling innovation and putting users at risk. But Brussels isn’t budging. The European Commission, responsible for enforcing the DMA, has flatly rejected Apple’s calls, setting the stage for a high-stakes standoff between one of the world’s most powerful tech companies and the regulatory body determined to rein it in.
Apple’s campaign against the DMA came to a head on September 24, 2025, as the company submitted an official response to the Commission’s public consultation on the law. In a blog post published the following day, Apple was blunt: “Over that time, it’s become clear that the DMA is leading to a worse experience for Apple users in the EU,” the company wrote. “It’s exposing them to new risks, and disrupting the simple, seamless way their Apple products work together. And as new technologies come out, our European users’ Apple products will only fall further behind.”
The DMA, passed by the European Union on March 15, 2022, and enforced since 2023, is a sweeping set of rules designed to curb the dominance of so-called “gatekeepers” – large digital platforms such as Apple, Google, Amazon, and Meta. The law prohibits these giants from self-preferencing their own products, restricting users from uninstalling pre-installed apps, misusing business user data, and limiting interoperability with third-party services. It also requires greater transparency in how companies rank search results and manage advertisements. Enforcement is strict: the Commission can levy fines of up to 10% of a company’s global revenue for violations, and up to 20% for repeat offenders.
Apple’s objections are many. The company claims the DMA’s requirements – including allowing alternative app marketplaces and payment systems – undermine the privacy and security standards that have become a hallmark of its brand. “The DMA also lets other companies request access to user data and core technologies of Apple products,” Apple wrote in its blog. “Apple is required to meet almost every request, even if they create serious risks for our users.” The company alleges that competitors have demanded access to sensitive information such as messages, emails, medical alerts, and Wi-Fi history.
Apple further argues the law has led to delays in rolling out new features for European users. Technologies like iPhone Mirroring and Live Translation for AirPods, which debuted in the United States, remain unavailable in Europe as Apple’s engineers scramble to ensure compatibility with third-party hardware as mandated by the DMA. “The DMA means the list of delayed features in the EU will probably get longer. And our EU users’ experience on Apple products will fall further behind,” a company spokesperson told POLITICO.
But the European Commission is unmoved. On September 25, 2025, Thomas Regnier, the Commission’s digital affairs spokesperson, responded decisively: “Apple has simply contested every little bit of the DMA since its entry into application,” Regnier said, as reported by France 24. “We have absolutely no intention of abandoning the law.” He added that Apple’s persistent challenges “undermine the company’s narrative of wanting to be fully cooperative with the Commission.”
The Commission has also pushed back hard against Apple’s claims that the DMA compromises user privacy and security. “Nothing in the DMA requires companies to lower their privacy standards or their security standards,” Regnier told reporters. Regulators maintain that the law’s true aim is to level the playing field, foster innovation, and give consumers more choices—without sacrificing safety.
The dispute is unfolding against a backdrop of intensifying regulatory scrutiny of Big Tech in Europe. In April 2025, the Commission fined Apple $580 million for violating rules that prevent the company from restricting developers from informing users about cheaper purchasing options outside the App Store. Apple is appealing the fine, but it’s not the only regulatory headache the company faces. In June, Apple filed a legal challenge against the DMA’s interoperability rules, which require its products to work seamlessly with third-party accessories like headphones and smartwatches.
Meanwhile, the DMA and its enforcement have become a flashpoint in transatlantic relations. US President Donald Trump has criticized the EU for targeting American tech giants with massive fines, and The Wall Street Journal has reported that such penalties are now a bargaining chip in US-EU trade negotiations. Apple CEO Tim Cook, for his part, has reportedly been strengthening ties with Washington as the company faces mounting pressure in Europe.
Adding another layer of complexity, European regulators are also investigating whether Apple, along with Meta and Google, is doing enough to prevent financial fraud on its platforms. Henna Virkkunen, the EU’s executive vice president for tech sovereignty, security, and democracy, noted in Financial Times, “We see that more and more criminal actions are taking place online. We have to make sure that online platforms really take all their efforts to detect and prevent that kind of illegal content.” This probe is being conducted under the Digital Services Act (DSA), a sister law to the DMA that grants the Commission powers to demand information from tech companies about their fraud prevention measures.
Despite Apple’s high-profile campaign and the political heat, Brussels is not backing down. The Commission insists that enforcement of the DMA will remain firmly in its hands, rejecting Apple’s suggestion that an independent European agency should take over. “It is up to us to decide how we want to enforce the DMA and who is enforcing the DMA,” Regnier emphasized.
For Apple, the stakes are high. The company says it wants to continue delivering new features to its European customers while meeting legal requirements, but it’s clear that the DMA poses real challenges to its business model. Apple is also navigating a potential investment deal with Intel, part of the chipmaker’s comeback strategy, as it seeks to shore up its position amid growing regulatory headwinds.
The European Commission, however, remains resolute. “The goal is to make the digital economy fairer and more open,” Regnier said. “We will continue to enforce the law to ensure that happens.” For now, it appears the DMA is here to stay—and Apple, along with its Big Tech peers, will have to adapt to a new era of regulation in Europe.
As the dust settles, one thing is clear: the battle over the DMA is far from over, and the outcome will shape the future of digital markets not only in Europe but around the world.
