Apple Maps is under the EU radar
What's the story
The European Union (EU) is evaluating whether Apple's Maps and Ads services should be classified as "gatekeepers" under the Digital Markets Act (DMA). This label applies to platforms that significantly influence their markets. Apple has informed the EU that these services meet the DMA criteria, which require at least 45 million monthly active users and 10,000 annual business users over the past three financial years.
Existing designations
Several Apple products already designated as gatekeepers
Apple already has several of its products designated as gatekeepers under the DMA. These include Safari web browser, iOS and iPadOS operating systems, and the App Store. The designation comes with strict rules that prevent Apple from favoring its own products over competitors or locking users into its ecosystem.
Official response
Apple's rebuttal to EU's potential designation
In response to the EU's potential designation of Maps and Ads as gatekeepers, Apple has submitted an official rebuttal. The tech giant argues that Maps is not widely used in the EU compared to competitors like Google Maps. It also contends that Apple Ads is a minor player in the bloc's online advertising market, with a smaller share than services offered by Google, Meta, TikTok and X.