Apple has lost a significant case in the European Union’s General Court in Luxembourg. The company had challenged the decision to classify iOS and the App Store as gatekeepers under the Digital Markets Act, the law designed to limit the power of very large digital platforms and encourage competition.
The court rejected Apple’s arguments over iOS and the App Store, and it also ruled that Apple’s objections linked to iMessage were not legally acceptable. The result strengthens the EU’s hand in regulating major technology companies and could push Apple to allow more choice for users and developers in Europe.
Apple said it believes the DMA threatens its existing security and privacy standards, and it plans to appeal to the Court of Justice of the European Union. The case is being watched closely because it may become an important example for how the EU deals with closed digital ecosystems.
