EU Commission proposes ways Apple can ensure iOS and iPadOS interoperability

Back in September, the European Commission (EC) launched two proceedings Push Apple to make iOS and iPadOS more friendly to third-party products under the Digital Markets Act (DMA). The EC has shared several draft measures to help improve iOS and iPadOS interoperability.

These include allowing notifications to be sent to third-party devices such as smart watches, wireless headsets, and VR headsets. Apple is also expected to bring AirPlay and AirDrop, automatic audio switching, automatic Wi-Fi connection, and improved iOS data transfer and proximity pairing. The European Commission also wants Apple to open up the execution of background activities so that third-party devices and services can maintain Bluetooth and network connections.

Apple should open up iOS features such as notifications, AirPlay and AirDrop to third-party devices to enhance innovation and user choice. – European Commission

The goal of this measure is to allow Apple to open up the benefits of its ecosystem to third-party devices and services, but Cupertino believes that these measures will bring more dangers, especially from “data-hungry companies” such as Meta. Apple released a white paper titled “It’s getting Personal” (PDF) which details how the measures proposed by the European Commission would result in less protection for user data.

If Apple had to approve all these requests, Facebook, Instagram and WhatsApp could let Meta read all of their messages and emails on users’ devices, view every call they make or receive, track every app they use, scan All their photos, view their files and calendar events, record all their passwords and more. Apple itself chooses not to access this data in order to provide users with the strongest protection possible. – Apple White Paper

The EC is now requesting feedback from third-party companies wishing to achieve interoperability with Apple devices by January 9, 2025. The European Commission will then finalize this series of measures, which are expected to be published before March 2025.

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