Apple Files Legal Challenge Against EU Law as Sideloading Requirement Looms - MacRumors
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Apple Files Legal Challenge Against EU Law as Sideloading Requirement Looms

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Apple today filed a legal challenge against the European Union's Digital Markets Act ahead of the impending requirement to enable app sideloading on its devices (via Reuters).

European Commisssion
The Digital Markets Act (DMA), which came into effect on November 1, 2022, requires "gatekeeper" companies to open up their services and platforms to other companies and developers. The DMA will have a significant impact on Apple's platforms and it could result in the company being forced to make major changes to the ‌App Store‌, Messages, FaceTime, Siri, and more. For example, Apple will be obliged to enable users to "sideload" apps from outside the ‌App Store‌. The company appears to have already put preparations in place to acquiesce to this demand in early 2024.

Apple's new legal case takes issue with specific decisions taken by the European Commission under the DMA, but the exact details of the challenge have not yet been publicized. The case is expected to include an argument against the ‌App Store‌ being included on the EU's list of gatekeeper platforms, which requires app sideloading to be an option to allow users to avoid the ‌App Store‌ if they wish. In a statement at the time, Apple told Bloomberg, "We remain very concerned about the privacy and data security risks the DMA poses for our users." Meta and TikTok have filed similar appeals disputing the European Commission's inclusion of their services.

Note: Due to the political or social nature of the discussion regarding this topic, the discussion thread is located in our Political News forum. All forum members and site visitors are welcome to read and follow the thread, but posting is limited to forum members with at least 100 posts.

Tags: Apple Antitrust, European Commission, European Union

Top Rated Comments

Z
zahuh
32 months ago
just a reminder to everyone here, the Mac, which I assume many of us love, allows for Apps to be downloaded from the App Store, or from online with verification for security, but we are able to disable the verification. I feel very safe using my Mac. iPhone has to open up. I assume it will be similar to the Mac and hopefully everything will be OK or even better
Score: 49 Votes (Like | Disagree)
B
bluecoast
32 months ago
I prefer the Apple that gets people to buy its products through innovation.

Not the one that guards every cent that it can squeeze out of them.
Score: 48 Votes (Like | Disagree)
HobeSoundDarryl Avatar
HobeSoundDarryl
32 months ago
Wow: FOUR favorable posts about side loading before the "Apple is always right" crowd shows up with pitchforks, torches & battering rams. Impressive to see consumers thinking like consumers! Way to go people.

#2 says it all. Even the most passionate of fans has probably purchased at least ONE app for their Mac direct from the maker of that app or through third parties. And their lives have not been destroyed, their money stolen, their identity lifted, their Mac suffering infections/trojans beyond all possible repair, etc. No problem for anyone who uses their brain to choose their source of apps wisely.

And anyone who is overwhelmed with security worries still has the OPTION of getting Mac apps from Apple's Mac App Store... as would be the case here for iDevice apps. So if Apple's App Store is best, let it win the competition with others... exactly like the Mac App Store competes with getting Mac apps direct from the makers and via third party store offers. Let the consumers decide where to get a given app vs. a lone, single source with lucrative for-profit motivations above all else.
Score: 30 Votes (Like | Disagree)
G
Gloor
32 months ago
Precisely! This monopoly behaviour has to go. Let people decide but give them the option.

Just like Steve Jobs always said - 'ask them'

I'm on EU side here. Doesn't mean I will use apps outside Appstore myself but I feel this will give people options. Those that want to tinker will be able to and those that want to feel the 'blanket of security' Apple provides will be also happy. Win win




just a reminder to everyone here, the Mac, which I assume many of us love, allows for Apps to be downloaded from the App Store, or from online with verification for security, but we are able to disable the verification. I feel very safe using my Mac. iPhone has to open up. I assume it will be similar to the Mac and hopefully everything will be OK or even better
Score: 26 Votes (Like | Disagree)
JosephAW Avatar
JosephAW
32 months ago
Would prefer the Apple would allow us to download purchased apps onto our computer and load them onto our devices again even if the developer is no longer in the app store.
Since Apple refuses to allow this I am for side loading apps to work around this. o_O
Score: 19 Votes (Like | Disagree)
Spaceboi Scaphandre Avatar
Spaceboi Scaphandre
32 months ago
I told them they could impliment sideloading now or be forced to kicking and screaming. I see Apple chose the kicking and screaming route. My favorite 🍿

Man the sideloading update can't come fast enough. I can't wait. I'll probably upgrade my iPhone when it arrives.
Score: 18 Votes (Like | Disagree)
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