This move highlights the ongoing tension between tech advancements and compliance.
Apple announced on Friday that it would delay the release of iOS 18’s key AI features in the European Union, attributing the decision to Digital Markets Act (DMA) regulations. According to Bloomberg, Apple stated that it would block the launch of Apple Intelligence, iPhone Mirroring on the Mac, and SharePlay Screen Sharing in the EU this year.
In a statement to Bloomberg, Apple expressed concerns that the DMA’s interoperability requirements might force the company to compromise the integrity of its products, potentially risking user privacy and data security. However, Apple did not elaborate on how the DMA regulations might affect user privacy and security.
The DMA, passed in 2022, aims to promote fair competition by limiting the power of Big Tech companies. It prevents them from suppressing smaller competitors, prioritizing their own services over those of rivals, locking customer data into their platforms, and limiting transparency regarding their use of advertising data.
This isn’t the first time Apple has cited regulations—without providing many specifics—as the reason for blocking EU users from certain features. Earlier this year, Apple claimed that DMA rules forced it to remove the ability to add home screen web apps in Europe, although it later reversed this decision due to “requests” it received. Similarly, Google removed third-party apps and watch faces from European devices, also blaming “new regulatory requirements.”
Apple’s delay occurs amid increasing regulatory challenges in the EU. In March, the European Commission opened an investigation into the company and is reportedly planning to charge it for DMA violations in the coming weeks. Earlier this year, Apple was fined €1.8 billion ($1.95 billion) for preventing app developers from informing iOS users about cheaper music subscription options outside of Apple’s ecosystem.