However, Apple is not willing to give in without a fight. According to the company, opening these functions to third parties would put privacy at serious risk of users.
War between Apple and the EU: full interoperability
The main objective of the Digital Markets Act (DMA) of the European Union is encourage competition in the technology sector, challenging the dominant position of giants like Apple. Among other things, this legislative framework has already allowed iPhone users to download applications directly and replace default iOS apps, but now it seeks something more ambitious: to make AirDrop and AirPlay also available to other manufacturers, including those that use Android.
For those less familiar, AirDrop allows you to quickly transfer files between Apple devices without the need for the internet, while AirPlay makes it easy to stream media to compatible TVs and speakers. Currently, both technologies are exclusive to the Apple ecosystemleaving out millions of Android users.
Last Thursday, the European Commission proposed that Apple guarantee the interoperability of these functions, ensuring that they can be used by any manufacturer. This would include opening access to these technologies to rival developers, something that could significantly alter the context.
Apple was quick to respond with a strong message: opening AirDrop and AirPlay to third parties could put the security and privacy of users at risk. In a document published the same day, the company cited Meta, the giant behind Facebook, Instagram and WhatsApp, as an example of what could go wrong.
Interoperability risks
According to Apple, granting access requested by companies like Meta could give them the ability to spy on users. The list of possible risks, according to the company, is alarming:
- Access to all messages and emails.
- Record of all calls made or received.
- Monitoring of the apps used.
- Scanning of all stored photos and files.
- Access to calendar and personal events.
- Capture all passwords.
Apple did not skimp on adjectives to warn about the possible consequences. “The end result could be that companies with a history of privacy violations gain unlimited access to users’ devices and their most personal data,” the company said in its statement.
Apple’s position has two clear objectives: on the one hand, to persuade European voters to pressure their representatives against the DMA measures, and on the other hand, to dissuade other countries, such as the United States, from adopting similar legislation. .
However, the EU has made it clear that these measures are still They are not definitive. The Commission noted that the proposals are preliminary and subject to adjustments, depending on feedback from Apple and other actors involved.
For now, time will tell if the EU manages to impose its vision, or if Apple manages to stop what it considers a threat to the security of its ecosystem. One thing is clear: the confrontation between innovation and privacy will only intensify.
