Apple implements more changes for EU users to comply with DMA

Apple (NASDAQ:AAPL) is making additional changes to how its products operate in the European Union in order to comply with the European Commission’s Digital Markets Act.

The latest changes, which will be implemented by the end of the year, apply to how EU users interact with the browser choice screen, default apps and app deletion on iOS and iPadOS.

“Developers of browsers offered in the browser choice screen in the EU will have additional information about their browser shown to users who view the choice screen, and will get access to more data about the performance of the choice screen,” Apple reported today. “The updated choice screen will be shown to all EU users who have Safari set as their default browser.”

What’s more, hardware using iOS 18 and iPadOS 18 will include a new “Default Apps” section in the Settings. EU users will also be able to delete the default apps that come with iPhones and iPads, including the App Store, Messages, Photos, Camera and Safari.

The DMA takes aim at what it considers the digital “gatekeepers,” which includes most of the Magnificent Seven. The six gatekeepers as identified by the EC are Apple, Alphabet (GOOG)(GOOGL), Amazon (AMZN), ByteDance (BDNCE), Meta (META) and Microsoft (MSFT).

The purpose of the DMA is to prevent gatekeepers “from imposing unfair conditions on businesses and end users and at ensuring the openness of important digital services.”

Apple has been busy adjusting its policies and procedures to comply with EU regulations, including this recent update to its App Store fee structure for developers.