यूरोपीय संघ के डिजिटल प्रभुत्व पर कार्रवाई से एप्पल का आईपैड प्रभावित हुआ।

Apple’s iPad hit by European Union’s digital dominance crackdown.

Apple Inc.'s iPad has been included in a roster of major tech products and services affected by stringent new regulations from the European Union, designed to prevent potential anti-competitive practices before they gain traction. This decision gives Apple a six-month window to ensure compliance of its tablet ecosystem with a series of proactive measures outlined in the EU's flagship Digital Markets Act.

Already under scrutiny by the law are the company's iOS mobile operating system, its App Store, and Safari browser. However, Apple has contested its classification for specific services to the EU's General Court in Luxembourg, with hearings scheduled later this year. According to EU Competition Commissioner Margrethe Vestager, the EU's decision to encompass the iPad within the DMA's scope is intended to safeguard fairness and competition. Despite not meeting all the criteria for inclusion, an investigation revealed that "iPadOS serves as a critical gateway for many companies to connect with their customers."

For Cupertino, California-headquartered Apple, this decision represents a setback, necessitating adjustments to its operating system to comply with a range of new responsibilities and restrictions. These include permitting iPad users to download apps from sources outside of Apple's ecosystem and providing the ability to uninstall preloaded apps from devices.

An Apple spokesperson emphasized the company's commitment to meeting the needs of European consumers while addressing the new privacy and data security challenges posed by the DMA.

The EU's DMA directly impacts the business models of six of the world's most influential technology companies identified as digital "gatekeepers." Alongside Apple, Microsoft Corp., Meta Platforms Inc., Alphabet Inc.'s Google, Amazon.com Inc., and TikTok owner ByteDance Ltd. are subject to new obligations aimed at preventing them from exploiting their dominance.

Under this legislation, which became fully enforceable on March 7, designated firms are prohibited from favouring their services over those of competitors. They are also restricted from consolidating personal data across different services, using data collected from third-party sellers to compete against them, and must allow users to download apps from competing platforms.

News Reference