In a move that underscores the European Union’s commitment to regulating tech giants, Apple’s operating system for iPads, iPadOS has been designated as a gatekeeper under the bloc’s landmark tech rules. This decision announced by EU antitrust regulators highlights the platform’s significance to business users and its pivotal role in the digital ecosystem.
The European Commission’s decision following an investigation initiated in September last year aligns with the Digital Markets Act (DMA) which became effective this year. The DMA aims to ensure fair competition and address concerns related to the dominance of major tech companies. Already, 22 services owned by prominent players like Apple, Google, Microsoft, Amazon, Meta Platforms and TikTok owner ByteDance have been identified as gatekeepers.
The designation of iPadOS as a gatekeeper underscores its importance as a gateway for numerous companies to reach their customers. EU antitrust chief Margrethe Vestager emphasized the findings of the market investigation highlighting that iPadOS plays a critical role in connecting businesses with their clientele.
Despite not meeting certain quantitative thresholds, iPadOS exceeded expectations in terms of business user numbers while end user figures approached the threshold and are projected to increase in the future. This underscores the significant impact of iPadOS on both business and end users who are locked into the ecosystem due to its vast reach.
Apple given a six-month period to comply with the DMA has expressed its commitment to engage constructively with the European Commission to ensure compliance across all designated services. The repercussions for breaching the DMA are significant with fines potentially reaching up to 10% of a company’s global annual turnover.
This decision by the European Union reflects ongoing efforts to promote fair competition, protect consumer interests and hold tech companies accountable for their market dominance. By designating iPadOS as a gatekeeper, regulators aim to foster a level playing field in the digital marketplace and encourage innovation while safeguarding against anti-competitive practices.
