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In preparation for possible pushback from Apple and Google against the Digital Markets Act’s sideloading policy, the European Union has commissioned a study to better cement its argument. (via Reuters)
EU’s law started to apply in May. It aims to deter market power abuse from huge dominant companies, which could affect competition in general. Apple has already felt its initial effect, forcing it to adopt the USB-C port in its iPhone 15 lineup this year. By March 2024, the Cupertino giant, alongside other platforms like Google, is expected to further embrace the law by allowing app sideloading to their systems.
In that case, the companies will have to welcome third-party applications and platforms to their systems. Additionally, it should allow users to have better options to change their default apps and programs.
As a gatekeeper, Apple must comply with the sideloading rules. This, however, will be a huge challenge for the gated ecosystem of the iPhone maker, which argues that user security and privacy push it to keep its system closed.
Despite that, Apple’s senior vice president of Software Engineering, Craig Federighi, said in June that the company was already “working with the EU” regarding safety compliance. It is followed by the launch of a new page on its website called “Apps by Apple,” which highlights its app offerings for its customers. The move reflects the giant’s preparation for the sideloading policy, suggesting the company’s willingness to follow the law.
However, according to Bloomberg’s Mark Gurman, while Apple will indeed bring the function in the Spring of 2024, it won’t make it easy for users to discover it. Specifically, the journalist shared that Apple is “going to downplay it and lock it down so significantly.” If this is true, it means Apple will roll out the function without making big or huge direct announcements about it, and it will be hidden inside Settings. This should discourage users not only from using the sideloading option but also from discovering it.
The EU is likely expecting that alongside possible resistance from companies. Knowing Apple and Google, that is not impossible. With this, the regulators will use the mobile ecosystems study to counter the two giants. A tender for the study, which is reportedly worth $315,200, will be until October 17.
“The aim of the study is to support the supervision and enforcement of the DMA vis-a-vis the gatekeepers,” the tender document reads. “This is one of the points and issues that is expected to be raised by the designated gatekeepers, in particular ones that are running a closed mobile ecosystem.”
