Apple files legal challenge to EU’s Digital Markets Act
LONDON, Nov 17 (Reuters) – Apple (AAPL.O) has initiated legal proceedings to challenge rulings made by the European Commission under the recently enacted Digital Markets Act, as revealed in a communication shared by the Court of Justice of the European Union on X.
The newly implemented legislation is directed at 22 “gatekeeper” services, overseen by six technology companies: Microsoft (MSFT.O), Apple (AAPL.O), Alphabet’s (GOOGL.O) Google, Amazon (AMZN.O), Meta, and ByteDance’s TikTok. The legislative framework aims to facilitate user mobility between competing services, mandating interoperability of messaging apps with rivals and empowering users to determine pre-installed apps on their devices.
Although specifics of Apple’s legal challenge remain undisclosed, Bloomberg News reported last week that the company would dispute the inclusion of its App Store in the gatekeepers’ list. Other tech giants, Meta (META.O) and TikTok, had already submitted appeals contesting the Commission’s decision to include their services.
Meta, in its appeal, expressed disagreement with the Commission’s designation of its Messenger and Marketplace services under the DMA. Notably, it did not contest the inclusion of Facebook, Whatsapp, or Instagram.
Concurrently, TikTok argued that its designation posed a risk of consolidating the influence of dominant tech companies, stating, “Far from being a gatekeeper, our platform, operating in Europe for just over five years, is arguably the most capable challenger to more entrenched platform businesses.”
As of now, Apple has not provided an immediate response to requests for comment.
Reporting by Martin Coulter, Editing by Louise Heavens