Apple on Thursday urged the European Union to scrap its Digital Markets Act (DMA), the competition law that came into force last year to curb the power of big tech firms.
The company said the regulation is harming European consumers and weakening the quality of its services.
"The DMA should be repealed while a more appropriate fit for purpose legislative instrument is put in place," Apple said in a formal submission to the European Commission. The statement was filed as part of a public consultation on the law.
EU competition officials say the DMA will make the digital sector in the 27-nation bloc fairer and more open. The legislation targets firms seen as "gatekeepers" with dominant control over online services.
Apple pushes back
Apple has fought the DMA since it was drafted. It argues that the law forces changes that reduce security and limit innovation.
The company, based in Cupertino in California, said it has been forced to remove features from new products released in Europe. Apple said this goes against its mission of giving consumers the most advanced tools possible.
The company also called for the creation of a new independent regulatory agency, separate from the Commission, to enforce the rules if repeal is not possible.
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Earphones restricted
Apple gave several examples in its Thursday statement. It said its new wireless earphones, the AirPods Pro 3, had to be released in the EU without the automatic live translation function, one of their headline features. The firm blamed the DMA for the restriction.
Apple also repeated its opposition to opening up its devices to rival app stores and alternative payment systems, which the DMA requires. It argued that these systems do not match the privacy and security standards of its own App Store.
Apple has long relied on a closed ecosystem in which it controls all aspects of its products. It says this model protects users and offers better performance. But EU competition authorities see it as a way of blocking rivals and limiting consumer choice.
Heavy penalties
The Digital Markets Act was adopted in 2022 and took effect in March 2024. It allows the EU to fine companies up to 10 percent of their global turnover, or up to 20 percent for repeat offences.
In April, the European Commission fined Apple €500 million for unfair terms imposed on developers in its App Store. The penalty, which Apple has appealed, was the first handed out under the new law.
Apple also faces a separate EU probe under the Digital Services Act, another flagship law that requires online platforms to protect users from illegal and harmful content.
