European Union to Apple: No, you don’t get to keep your ecosystem locked anymore
This latest move forces Apple to make iPhones and iPads play nicer with rival technologies.
There’s a Nigerian pidgin English adage that says, "Nah from clap, dance dey start"—meaning a simple clap can spark a full-blown dance. That’s exactly what’s happening with the European Union’s escalating battle against Apple’s monopoly.
From the moment the EU rolled out its Digital Markets Act (DMA), it treated Apple less like an innovative giant and more like a misbehaving child in need of discipline. First, it forced Apple to ditch its Lightning charger for USB-C. Then, it demanded Apple allow side-loading of apps, bypassing the App Store’s walled garden. Now, the EU is going even further, demanding that Apple open up iOS in ways that could strip away some of its biggest competitive advantages.
On Wednesday, the EU laid down at least nine new sets of demand that targets Apple’s most valuable ecosystem advantages including AirPlay, AirDrop, and seamless device integration. This latest move forces Apple to make iPhones and iPads play nicer with rival technologies.
Henry Chikwem
Some of this demand includes, third-party smartwatches getting full push notifications, non-Apple headphones pairing just as seamlessly as AirPods, and even AirPlay and AirDrop working with outside apps. The EU is telling Apple: You don’t get to keep your ecosystem locked anymore.
This is the first time the EU has compelled a major tech firm to comply with the DMA, a sweeping law designed to prevent tech “gatekeepers” from dominating markets. Since the act took effect last year, the EU has aggressively investigated Big Tech, and now, it’s tightening the screws.
Unsurprisingly, Apple isn’t thrilled. The company fired back, saying these rules don’t just hurt Apple but also European users. In a statement, Apple called the decision “red tape” that slows down innovation and forces it to give away hard-earned features to competitors who don’t have to play by the same rules.
And Apple isn’t the only tech giant in the EU’s crosshairs. Google is also under fire for allegedly prioritizing its services in search results and preventing developers from directing users to cheaper alternatives outside of the Play Store.
Louis Eriakha
Even across the Atlantic, this fight isn’t going unnoticed. Donald Trump recently called the EU’s treatment of U.S. tech companies “nasty” and accused the bloc of unfairly draining billions from American businesses.
At the heart of it, this all boils down to one question: Is Apple’s ecosystem unfair, or is it just really well-designed? Apple argues that its seamless experience isn’t a monopoly—it’s just good engineering. The EU, however, seems determined to dismantle what makes Apple unique, one regulation at a time.
Either way, this fight is far from over. And if history is any indication, Apple isn’t the type to just roll over.
