A man has an Apple iPhone 16 Pro Max before the start of sales of new smartphones in the IPhone 16 series in a store in Moscow, Russia, September 20, 2024.
Evgenia Novozhenina | Reuters
European Union regulators take measures to brake Google And Apple On antitrust accusations, even if US President Donald Trump threatens to hit the block with prices for an alleged “extortion abroad” from American technology giants.
The European Commission, which is the executive body of the EU, said on Wednesday that it had found Google Alphabet’s parent company in violation of the Digital Markets Act (DMA) – A historic law aimed at solving technological competition problems – with its research and Google Play products.
The block accused Google Search to treat the own alphabet services more favorably compared to those rival – a practice known as “self -reflection”, which is not authorized by the DMA.
The EU has also said that Google Play, the Alphabet Mobile App Store, prevents applicants from applications from freely directing consumers to alternatives.
Google has not yet responded to a request for CNBC comments.
Apple guide
In addition, the Commission also sent advice to Apple under the DMA calling the iPhone manufacturer to take concrete measures to comply with its interoperability obligation under EU competition rules.
Interoperability refers to the practice of allowing different platforms to communicate more easily between them – in other words, you should be able to more easily bring data from one system to another.
The block said that Apple should allow interoperability in its iOS mobile operating system in a way that allows third parties to “develop innovative products and services on Apple Gatekeeper platforms”.
In response to EU measures on Wednesday, Apple said that the movements “envelop us in administrative formalities, slowing Apple’s ability to innovate for users in Europe and forcing us to give our new features for companies that do not have to play according to the same rules.”
“We will continue to work with the European Commission to help them understand our concerns on behalf of our users,” Apple spokesperson said in a press release shared with CNBC.
This story of rupture is updated.
