Julie Clover
Apple said today that Meta has made 15 compliance requests under the Digital Markets Act (DMA) in the European Union, more than any other company.
In a statement provided to Reuters, Apple said Meta is requesting changes that could compromise user security and privacy.
In many cases, Meta is attempting to change functionality in ways that raise concerns about user privacy and security, and that appear to be completely unrelated to the actual use of Meta's external devices, such as the Meta smart glasses and Meta Quest.
If Apple were to comply with all of these requests, Facebook, Instagram, and WhatsApp could allow Meta to read all of a user's messages and emails, see every phone call they make or receive, track every app they use, scan all their photos, view their files and calendar events, log all their passwords, and more.
Under the terms of the DMA, which affects iOS and iPadOS, Apple is required to allow app developers to submit hardware and software compatibility requests. Apple evaluates all requests to determine whether they fall under the relevant clause of the DMA, and if so, Apple will develop a solution to ensure effective compatibility. Apple warns that the integrity of iOS and iPadOS are “important considerations” and that it may not be possible for the company to develop an effective compatibility solution.
In response to Apple’s comments on Meta’s requests, Meta stated the following: “What Apple is really saying is that they don’t believe in interoperability. Every time Apple is accused of anti-competitive behavior, they defend themselves by citing privacy concerns that have no basis in reality.”
Apple’s complaint against Meta comes after the European Union shared preliminary findings on proposed measures Apple should implement to improve interoperability. The European Commission says Apple needs to give developers better visibility into the components of iOS that provide Apple-reserved features, and Apple should develop a better process to make it easier to submit interoperability requests. Apple should also adhere to stricter deadlines and avoid delays in providing feedback on requested features.
The European Commission is currently consulting with interested third parties on whether its preliminary findings are sufficient to make Apple's request-based process effective. The EC says the measures could be adjusted based on feedback from Apple and third parties.
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