The European Commission has made a ruling, stating that Apple’s iPadOS, the operating system used for its tablets, is now considered a gatekeeper under the Digital Markets Act. As a result, Apple must adhere to the new stringent rules set forth by the Commission.
The commission has set a deadline of six months for Apple to bring the iPadOS into compliance. According to a statement by the commission, the operating system’s business user numbers exceed the quantitative threshold by “elevenfold,” while the end-user numbers are close to reaching the threshold and are expected to increase.
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According to the commission, Apple ensures that its end users are committed to using iPadOs and discourages them from switching to alternative tablet operating systems. This is also applicable to business users who are enticed by the extensive and appealing user base of iPadOS.
“We have found through our market investigation that even though iPadOS does not meet the thresholds, it serves as a crucial platform for many companies to connect with their customers,” stated Margrethe Vestager, the executive vice president responsible for competitive policy at the European Commission.
“We are pleased with today’s decision, as it ensures fairness and contestability on this platform, while also ensuring compliance with the DMA.”
The European Commission has been intensifying its efforts to regulate big tech companies with its Digital Markets Act. In its latest move, the Commission announced a continued crackdown on these companies. In March, Alphabet was found to be in violation for directing customers to their own products in Google Play and prioritizing their own content in Google Search.
Alphabet, Google’s parent company, along with Amazon, Apple, ByteDance, Meta (the parent of Facebook), and Microsoft, have all been identified as gatekeeper platforms. As gatekeepers, they are required to comply with DMA regulations that aim to promote fair competition.
