(Paris) Apple announced Thursday that it will make changes, starting in March, to its iOS operating system, its Safari browser and its App Store within the European Union, while reluctantly complying with new regulations for digital markets, the Digital Markets Act. (DMA), which will then enter into force.
Concretely, starting with the release of iOS 17.4 on the popular iPhone or iPad, developers will be able to offer alternative app stores, verified by Apple.
Solutions developed by the Apple brand will no longer be the only payment options, especially contactless payment.
When they open Safari for the first time, users will be able to choose their browser from a list of competitors. Until now, you had to go into settings to make this adjustment.
These changes come with new pricing terms for developers.
“The changes we're announcing today comply with the requirements of the EU Digital Markets Act, while helping protect EU users from the inevitable increased privacy and security threats that result from this regulation,” says Phil Schiller, Apple's senior vice president of marketing. . Citing a press release criticizing the DMA.
“Even with these guarantees, there are still many risks,” adds the Cupertino group, whose security is one of its main marketing arguments. He also laments the “less intuitive user experience,” according to him.
Apple, like five other digital giants – Alphabet (Google), Amazon, Meta (Facebook, Instagram), Microsoft and China's ByteDance (TikTok) – will be subject to the DMA from March 7, which introduces tougher rules to contain anti-competitive products. Practices in the European Union
Violating companies will face fines of up to 20% of their global sales volume in the event of repeated violations, or even dismantling the measures in more serious cases.
The legislation is subject to legal challenges, particularly from Meta and TikTok.
