Apple is sounding the alarm that UK users might have to wait longer for new features if regulators push through EU-style competition rules. But is this really about protecting users — or protecting Apple’s bottom line?
What’s Happening
The UK’s Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) is weighing rules that would shake up Apple’s walled garden. Proposed changes include:
- Letting developers steer users toward cheaper, alternative payment systems.
- Forcing greater interoperability with things like digital wallets and smartwatches.
Apple says this could weaken privacy and security, but critics argue the company is mostly worried about losing its lucrative App Store commission.
Apple’s Warning: “Remember the EU”
Apple points to the EU’s Digital Markets Act as proof things could get messy. Its flagship Apple Intelligence feature, announced at WWDC 2024, launched everywhere but the EU — and European users had to wait until March 2025 while Apple worked around compliance rules.
Suggested: Apple Blocks iTorrent App From EU Alternative App Marketplace
Apple told the BBC these new UK rules would be “bad for users and bad for developers,” essentially claiming regulators are forcing them to hand over their tech to rivals for free.
CMA’s Counterpoint
The CMA isn’t buying Apple’s comparison. It says the UK’s approach is narrower than the EU’s and focuses only on interoperability, not wide-open access. In other words, it wants to give UK developers a fair shot without dismantling security safeguards.
The 404 Take
Apple loves to frame every regulatory battle as a fight for user privacy and security. And yes, some of that’s true — opening up platforms can create risks. But let’s be real: Apple also has billions riding on its App Store ecosystem. When it warns of “feature delays,” it feels less like a technical limitation and more like a negotiating tactic.
The bigger question is: would UK users really mind waiting a few extra months for Apple Intelligence if it meant more competition, cheaper app prices, and better innovation? Apple doesn’t seem to think so.
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