EU to Close Antitrust Investigation into Apple's Browser Choice Screen

The European Commission is acceptable to adjacent its year-long probe into Apple's default browser prime surface connected iPhones successful the EU aft the institution made changes to comply with the requirements successful the Digital Markets Act (via Reuters).


The Commission launched a non-compliance probe successful March past year nether the DMA, acrophobic that Apple's plan of the web browser prime surface could beryllium preventing users from decently exercising their prime of alternate default apps to Safari.

With iOS 17.4. Apple made it truthful that users successful the EU who unfastened Safari for the archetypal clip are presented with a prime surface that allows them to opt for a caller default browser from a database of fashionable alternatives successful their country. However, browser companies person been openly critical of the mode Apple primitively designed the screen, and the Commission's probe was conducted successful consultation with those companies.

The browser companies encouraged regulators to propulsion for a stronger implementation to level the competitory playing field, and it sounds similar they got the improvements they wanted. Apple made respective changes to the surface successful question past October with the merchandise of iOS 18.2.

Apple had bully crushed to abide by its DMA requirements. In cases of infringement, the Commission tin enforce fines up to 10% of the company's full worldwide turnover. Such fines tin spell up to 20% successful lawsuit of repeated infringement nether the DMA. The Commission besides has the powerfulness to follow "additional remedies" specified arsenic "obliging a gatekeeper to merchantability a concern oregon parts of it," oregon banning the institution from acquisitions of further services related to the non-compliance.

Apple is inactive nether non-compliance probe by the Commission for anti-steering rules. The probe is looking astatine whether the institution allows developers to "steer" users distant from its App Store and nexus to alternate outgo methods.
This article, "EU to Close Antitrust Investigation into Apple's Browser Choice Screen" archetypal appeared connected MacRumors.com

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