Apple torpedoes sideloading: EU Commission sees further DMA violations

Apple must open up iOS and iPadOS more consistently or face another fine. Alongside the imposition of the first fine of 500 million euros against Apple under the Digital Markets Act, the EU Commission on Wednesday also chalked up the next serious infringements: The iPhone company had erected targeted hurdles that make the direct installation of apps and app stores from the web as unattractive as possible, both technically and commercially. This was announced by the EU Commission in its preliminary findings as part of an ongoing investigation. Apple now has time to respond to the allegations and make improvements.

iPhone sideloading possible, but complicated

Apple has been forced to open up iOS and iPadOS in the EU, but only gradually and with obvious reluctance. For over a year now, iPhone users in the EU have been able to install other app stores, and it is also possible to download new iOS apps from websites –, at least on paper. In practice, there are now only around a handful of alternative app stores with a fairly manageable offering, including the Epic Games Store, AltStore PAL and Setapp. Nobody seems to offer direct sideloading of individual apps from a developer website.

The reasons for the low distribution are obvious. The direct installation of apps and app stores is inconvenient: users have to work through a double-digit number of steps, including changing settings and confirming warning dialogs. According to the EU Commission, this is "excessively time-consuming and confusing for end users".

The competition watchdog also criticized the contractual conditions and requirements for developers who want to distribute their apps directly in this way. They are forced to accept controversial new terms and conditions with a "core technology fee", under which Apple charges fees based on app downloads. Apple has also set "excessively strict eligibility requirements", according to the Commission. Developers who wish to make apps available for download on their website must already distribute an extremely popular app in the App Store, have paid for Apple's developer program for more than two years and also have an "impeccable reputation" – Apple decides whether the latter applies. These measures by the company are neither "strictly necessary nor proportionate" and violate the Digital Markets Act, according to the preliminary finding.

Other EU investigation against Apple closed

At the same time, however, the regulators were satisfied with Apple's changes to browser selection dialogs and the now more extensive options for deleting Apple apps and changing default apps on iPhones and iPads – an investigation into this was closed.

Extremely high penalties are threatened for violations of the Digital Markets Act. However, as was shown on Wednesday, these are likely to be rather small for now, also to avoid further confrontations with the Trump administration. Nevertheless, Apple must react to this and adjust its contract terms, for example. The announcements are another example of the "EU Commission unfairly targeting Apple", the company said in a statement. The decisions are "bad for the privacy and security of our users" and "bad for products".

(lbe)