LONDON – Apple has raised concerns about Meta Platforms’ requests for access to its operating software, citing potential threats to user privacy. This disagreement has been exacerbated by the European Union’s increasing efforts to urge the iPhone manufacturer to embrace products from its tech competitors.
The European Commission, representing the EU’s 27 member states, is in the process of developing “interoperability” guidelines for Apple as part of the new digital competition regulations. These guidelines are intended to ensure that devices like smartwatches and features such as wireless file transfers can seamlessly interact with iPhones, similar to the compatibility of Apple Watches and AirDrop.
The Digital Markets Act, the EU’s regulatory framework, is designed to foster equitable competition in digital markets and prevent major tech companies acting as “gatekeepers” from dominating these markets. Recently, the commission unveiled proposed measures outlining how Apple should facilitate the integration of its iOS operating system with other technologies.
In response, Apple said it’s “concerned that some companies — with data practices that do not meet the high standards of data protection law held by the EU and supported by Apple — may attempt to abuse the DMA’s interoperability provisions to access sensitive user data.”
The company singled out Meta, saying it has made at least 15 requests “for potentially far-reaching access to Apple’s technology stack” that would reduce privacy protections for users.
If those requests were granted, “Facebook, Instagram, and WhatsApp could enable Meta to read on a user’s device all of their messages and emails, see every phone call they make or receive, track every app that they use, scan all of their photos, look at their files and calendar events, log all of their passwords,” the company said in a report.
Meta, which owns Facebook and Instagram, fought back.
“Here’s what Apple is actually saying: they don’t believe in interoperability,” Meta spokesman Andy Stone said in a post on X. “In fact, every time Apple is called out for anticompetitive behavior, they defend themselves on privacy grounds that have no basis in reality.”
The Brussels-based European Commission’s proposed measures call for an approach based on Apple’s existing “request-based process,” in which developers ask for access to features and functions.
Apple should provide a “dedicated contact” to handle requests and give updates and feedback, and there should be a “fair and impartial conciliation” process to settle disagreements on technical issues.
The commission is now asking for feedback from the public by Jan. 9 on the proposals, including from any companies that have made interoperability requests from Apple, or are thinking of doing so.
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