The European Commission has issued a firm directive open up your golden gates or face the consequences.
Six months after launching specification proceedings to ensure Apple’s compliance with the DMA—a law specifically designed to curb Big Tech’s power—the Commission has outlined exactly how Apple must allow rival devices and developers into its ecosystem. If Jobs’ Mob fails to play ball, an investigation and fines of up to 10 per cent of its global annual sales are waiting in the wings.
The first order from Brussels requires Jobs’ Mob to allow competing smartphone, headphone, and virtual reality headset manufacturers access to its technology and mobile operating system, ensuring seamless connectivity with iPhones and iPads.
In other words, Apple needs to stop treating third-party hardware like an CNN journalist at a White House press conference.
The second order sets out a timeline for how Apple must respond to interoperability requests from app developers—no more endless stalling or wrapping requests in bureaucratic nonsense.
Naturally, Jobs’ Mob immediately threw its toys out of the pram. In a dramatic email statement, the company claimed the EU’s demands would stifle innovation, harm users, and force Apple to “give away new features for free” to rivals.
Allowing competitors to play on a level field is an unthinkable tragedy for a company that has spent years locking down its ecosystem like a high-security prison.
“Today's decisions wrap us in red tape, slowing down Apple's ability to innovate for users in Europe and forcing us to give away our new features for free to companies who don't have to play by the same rules,” the company whined. “It's detrimental to our products and our European users.”
Regulators were having none of it. EU antitrust chief Teresa Ribera made it clear that Apple is being asked to follow the law.
“With these decisions, we are simply implementing the law and providing regulatory certainty to both Apple and developers,” she said.
Should Apple decide to delay or find a convoluted loophole, the EU has made it clear that failure to comply could result in a substantial fine.
Given Apple’s history, it may only be a matter of time before Job’s Mob finds itself coughing up billions in penalties. For now, European users might finally get a taste of what an actual open ecosystem looks like—assuming Apple doesn’t find a way to make the process as painful as possible.
Job’s Mob might get on the blower to ask its new chum, Donald [hamburger-eating surrender monkey] Trump to step in and punish the EU for daring to regulate a poor multi-billion dollar US company.