European Commission aims to reach deal on antitrust laws by end of March

The European Commission is aiming to reach a fast-tracked deal with EU lawmakers to rein in the power of tech giants like Apple, Amazon, and Meta by the end of March.

Margrethe Vestager, who first proposed the Digital Markets Act, said that there has been good progress in negotiations and said the Commission is aiming to reach "political agreement" by the end of March, Reuters has reported.

"If we manage that, that will be legislation with almost the speed of lightning," she said at a European Parliament hearing.

The Digital Markets Act would end self-preferencing by tech giants in the European Union. It was introduced back in 2020 alongside the Digital Services Act, which would address illegal or harmful content by urging platforms to moderate them in a prompt matter.

Both pieces of legislation carry severe penalties for companies that don't comply. However, their progress in the European Union has been snarled by lawmaker infighting and parliamentary dustups.

Apple has vocally opposed the antitrust legislation. Back in 2021, Apple CEO Tim Cook said that the proposals could threaten the security and privacy of Apple's iPhone, among others platforms.

However, the EU is pressing forward with its competition rules. EU lawmakers previously said they could reach a deal on the legislation by the end of June 2022.

6 Comments

22july2013 11 Years · 3736 comments

About 2 years ago

The main issue Cook has with the DMA is its requirement for side-loading, so that users can bypass Apple's App Store.

If I were Cook, I'd implement that by officially allowing users to get their side-loading by replacing iOS with Android on their iPhones.

And each iPhone could also come with no OS loaded at point of sale. Users would have to choose which OS to load when turning the device on. Therefore the Apple App Store would not be "pre-installed." It would require an active opt-in for any user to choose and load iOS with it's walled garden.

mjtomlin 20 Years · 2690 comments

I get Cook's argument, but honestly, if people want to do it, let them. But once they flip the switch, Apple should be free from any liability should something go wrong.

mjtomlin said:

I get Cook's argument, but honestly, if people want to do it, let them. But once they flip the switch, Apple should be free from any liability should something go wrong.

I agree, but the right to repair group and the anti-Apple App Store both expect Apple to maintain full liability and warranty for anything anyone else does.

entropys 13 Years · 4316 comments

Yes they are the barnyard animals to Apple’s little red hen.

darelrex 11 Years · 140 comments

22july2013 said:

If I were Cook, I'd implement that by officially allowing users to get their side-loading by replacing iOS with Android on their iPhones.

Doesn't this choice already exist? Go to the store and buy an Android phone or go to the store and buy an iPhone. According to the stats, 75% of people worldwide already elect to buy an Android phone (50% in the USA).