EU Considers Designating Apple Ads and Maps as Gatekeepers Under Digital Markets Act

EU Digital Markets Act Scrutiny

• 🇪🇺 The European Commission has indicated that Apple Ads and Apple Maps may be classified as gatekeepers under the EU's Digital Markets Act (DMA).
• ⚖️ Gatekeepers are subject to strict rules regarding content moderation, fair competition, and ease of switching between services.

Designation Criteria and Apple's Response

• 🎯 The DMA designates gatekeepers based on criteria including over 45 million monthly active users, $79 billion in market capitalization, and providing a core platform service.
• 🔔 Apple's notifications suggest its platforms meet these thresholds, prompting a 45-day review period by the Commission.
• 🚫 Apple has formally disputed the potential designation, arguing that Apple Ads has a minimal market share compared to competitors like Google, Meta, Microsoft, TikTok, and X.
• 🗺️ Similarly, Apple contends that Apple Maps has very limited usage in the EU when compared to services such as Google Maps and Waze.

Compliance and Next Steps

• ⏳ If designated, Apple will have six months to comply with the DMA's regulations.
• 🗣️ The company has submitted official rebuttals to the pre-designation notification.