The EU is urging Apple to ensure its products are compatible with those of rival brands. Following months of consultation and investigation, the EU is preparing measures it expects the US tech giant to implement. Apple received the findings in December, and regulators are now pushing for compliance. William Denselow reports from Brussels.
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#Apple #EURegulation #TechPolicy
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NewsTranscript
00:00Connecting to various tech devices can often leave consumers feeling frazzled,
00:06with some turning to repair shops and tech gurus for assistance.
00:11It would be better if we could connect everything together and if there were no issues.
00:17For instance, if you have a Samsung watch, it would be great if you could answer a call on an iPhone.
00:24The European Commission is hoping to address that.
00:27Through the Digital Markets Act, the goal is to ensure devices can work together.
00:32The Commission has, let's say, various tools to help enforce the regulation.
00:38One of those is opening a non-compliance investigation,
00:41and the purpose of this investigation is to really analyse whether the measure
00:46that Apple or other gatekeepers put in place are sufficient.
00:50Over recent weeks, the Commission has called on developers to provide technical expertise
00:55about how cross-device connection could be achieved.
00:59The Commission will now digest that information as it seeks to present firm conclusions in March.
01:07Apple has already raised privacy protection concerns,
01:11warning that its systems could become vulnerable to data-hungry companies and rivals.
01:19The Commission says robust frameworks are in place to protect sensitive data.
01:24Some analysts say recent changes to iPhone charging compatibility,
01:28largely the result of EU laws, is evidence that a resolution can be found.
01:34I think you've already seen with the newer models that they're complying with USBC
01:38and a whole bunch of different things.
01:39So I think you have a bunch of guys negotiating this by standing on soapboxes
01:43screaming about privacy in the free market, but in the end they're just working a deal.
01:47Apple is no stranger to EU regulators.
01:50Last year it was ordered to pay nearly $2 billion,
01:54having been accused of violating EU antitrust rules to keep out rivals.
01:59Current relations may be tense, but with Apple's estimated 30% of the European smartphone market,
02:06both sides have incentives to be more in sync.
02:10William Denslow, CGTN, Brussels.