iPad operating system joins iOS on the list of obligations of “gatekeepers” of the Digital Markets regulation – Computers

The European executive has just added Apple’s tablet operating system, iPadOS, as a “gatekeeper” under the Digital Markets Act (DMA). In September last year, the iOS operating system, used on the iPhone, had already been included in the list, as well as the Safari browser and the App Store application store.and now Apple has even more obligations to fulfill in Europe.

Alphabet, Amazon, Apple, ByteDance, Meta and Microsoft are the companies designated as gatekeepers, responsible for large platforms and services, under the DMA, with additional obligations to be fulfilled to ensure competition in the digital market, transparency of processes and access to services for users. In total, 22 services covered by these rules were listed, but Booking, ByteDance and X (ex Twitter) may also join the list.

By adding iPadOS to Apple’s list of services that must comply with the new rules the European Commission explains that the number of business users has exceeded the defined quantitative limits, while individual users are expected to grow in the near future. It also says that iPadOS users are “locked” into this ecosystem and that Apple takes advantage of its power to discourage users from switching to another tablet alternative, which could be Android or Windows.

In March, the European Commission opened five investigations for violating the rules of the digital markets regulation in what is the first major intervention by the executive under the DMA and which could lead to millionaire fines. The rules of Google Play and the App Store, the choices in Google search and Safary screens, and the payment model of Facebook and Instagram were the practices targeted.

Investigations must be completed within 12 months, after which the European Commission will inform companies about the results and define measures that it considers appropriate. If an infraction is identified fines can reach 10% of the company’s total revenue, rising to 20% if violations are repeated. These are millionaire values ​​if we look at the turnover of companies, which are among the most valuable in the world. In the rules defined by the DMA regulation, in more serious cases the European Commission can take other measures, such as obliging companies to separate their business or preventing the acquisition of additional services.

The Digital Markets Regulation (DMA) came into force on March 7th, and on this date companies designated by the European Commission as gatekeepers now have to comply with the obligations of the Digital Markets Regulation (DMA), which brings new rules for Big Tech, to limit unfair practices by large platforms and guarantee the openness of relevant services.

In recent months, there has been no shortage of warnings about the possibility that Big Tech services may not be compliant. to the new regulations on digital markets and services (DMA and DSA) and companies themselves have multiplied efforts, in a race against time, to avoid processes that result in millionaire fines, much higher than those provided for in the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR).

Commissioner Margrethe Vestager herself had already warned that Apple and Meta’s new fees could harm consumers and that Brussels was paying attention to these situations. Added to this is criticism from several technology companies that depend on the services of gatekeepers, such as Spotify, Epic Games and Deezer.

The limits crossed by iPadOS

According to the European Commission, the dedicated operating system for Apple tablets has now reached some limits that make it fall under the DMA rules. When the European executive placed iOS, the Safari browser and the App Store on Apple’s list of services under surveillance under the new rules it immediately opened an investigation into iPadOS to see if it should be considered a gatekeeper.

It was based on this analysis that he concluded that the number of Apple business users “exceeded eleven times the quantitative limit”while the number of individual users “was close to the limit and is expected to increase in the near future”.

“Business users are hooked on iPadOS due to its large, commercially attractive user base and its importance for certain use cases, such as gaming applications,” says the European Commission’s statement.

Apple now has six months to ensure full compliance with the DMA obligations applied to iPadOS, but could face large fines if it fails to do so.. It is not mentioned in the statement, but this decision could lead to new obligations to open Apple’s operating system.

Editor’s Note: The news has been updated with more information. Last updated 11:55am.