Digital Markets Act: Apple impedes interoperability and user choice

Digital Markets Act: Apple impedes interoperability and user choice - Digital

Credit: REUTERS/Joshua Roberts

On 22 October 2025, ARTICLE 19 and Gesellschaft für Freiheitsrechte (GFF) have filed a complaint against Apple for non-compliance with the Digital Markets Act (DMA). The complaint seeks to ensure that Apple finally fulfils its legal obligations on interoperability, giving users effective choice over which apps and app stores they want to use on their devices.  

Under 6(4) and 6(7) of the DMA, Apple is required to allow installation and use of third-party software apps and app stores on its iPhone and iPad devices – to guarantee interoperability for small and alternative businesses (including not-for-profit ones) and more choice for users, who should be able to opt for accessing products and services developed by other providers.  

However, Apple, through its terms and conditions governing the App Store and the iOS operating system, makes it practically impossible for third party providers to offer their apps and app stores on Apple’s devices. Apple’s restrictions and requirements, including requiring third-party app stores to provide access to a ‘security deposit’ of one million euro, effectively exclude smaller providers from Apple’s operating systems – harming developers of free software in particular.  

“It’s time Apple users are free to access apps from their app store of choice. The EU rules mandate it – but Apple hides behind unfair, unnecessary, and disproportionate terms and conditions, making it impossible in practice”, Maria Luisa Stasi, Head of Law and Policy for Digital Markets, ARTICLE 19 

In the complaint, ARTICLE 19 and GFF urge the Commission to take appropriate steps to put an end to Apple’s continuing non-compliance with its obligations under the DMA  for the benefit of the third party players, and, most importantly, for end users who must be able to exercise their choice over apps and services they wish to use on their devices.  

“The EU Digital Markets Act requires Apple to allow app stores from other providers on its devices. We want the company to finally comply with this requirement – and have therefore filed a complaint with the EU Commission”, Jürgen Bering, Head of Center for User Rights, GFF

 

Read the complaint here

Background  

Under the DMA, Apple has been designated a gatekeeper for several core services, including app stores. As such, the company needs to comply with a number of obligations in the DMA on an ongoing basis. However, Apple has already been found in violation of DMA for its anti-steering provisions. In April 2025, the European Commission imposed fines on the company for putting restrictions on app developers that prevented them from steering users to app stores other than Apple’s own one, and denying users the option of accessing better and cheaper offers directly from app developers’ own distribution channels – breaching obligations set out in Article 5(4) DMA. ARTICLE 19 welcomed the decision at the time, hailing it as ‘a crucial step in the right direction’.