From Apple iPadOS was considered a “gatekeeper” platform under the EU’s Digital Markets Act (DMA) in April. This resulted in Apple agree to open iPadOS to third-party app stores in the EU in May, following what it had initially done with iOS.
The EU gave Apple a six-month period to comply with all DMA regulations for iPadOS, which expired on October 28. This is what the European Commission said today Reuters that it is currently assessing whether iPadOS complies with the DMA following Apple’s concessions.
The EU antitrust watchdog said: “The Commission will now carefully assess whether the measures taken for iPad OS are effective in meeting DMA obligations. The Commission’s assessment will also be based on input from interested stakeholders.”
As for iPadOS, the DMA requires Apple to give users the ability to set any default web browser they want, allow alternative app stores, and allow headphones and smart pens to access iPadOS features.
If a company is found to be in violation of the DMA, it could be fined as much as 10% of its annual global revenue, which would mean many, many billions for Apple. That is why there has been such a rapid effort so far to satisfy the EU in this area.