In a development that has all the reluctant charm of a teenager being told to clean their room, Apple has agreed to let third-party app stores onto its iPhones and iPads in the European Union. This capitulation comes not from a sudden bout of generosity or an epiphany at Apple Park but from the Digital Markets Act, a law gently nudging tech giants with the subtlety of a wrecking ball.
Starting in March, users in the EU will be able to download apps from places other than Apple’s own App Store, a move that could thrill developers and perhaps terrify those whose idea of sideloading is putting leftovers in the fridge. Of course, Apple is not going down without a few carefully curated strings attached. The company announced a plan that includes what it calls “new business terms” which involve developers potentially paying a per-install fee if they dare stray outside the walled garden. Think of it as a velvet rope around a slightly wider garden.
The update will arrive with iOS 17.4, and while EU residents may soon enjoy a little more digital freedom, the rest of the world will continue living in App Store serfdom because Apple does not believe in unnecessary consistency unless it involves design symmetry or charging ports. The company remains adamant that these changes could degrade security, privacy and overall user experience, which coincidentally are the same arguments people make when asked to share their Netflix password.
In a press release so carefully worded it probably required a diplomacy degree to interpret, Apple cited the risk of fraud, malware and scams. It warned that opening to other app markets forces them to build a less secure system. This is roughly analogous to someone warning that taking off a blindfold might let you see traffic, which could be overwhelming, but technically safer.
The European Commission, which is responsible for the law, offered a polite but determined response by continuing to exist and reminding Apple that compliance is not optional. The DMA targets so-called “gatekeepers,” and Apple is about as gatekeeper-y as one can get without actually handing out wristbands at the club door.
Competing app store operators like Epic Games, which previously went to legal war with Apple and emerged a bit bruised but very vocal, are expected to forge new paths onto iOS. Epic CEO Tim Sweeney called Apple’s new plan “a devious new instance of Malicious Compliance,” which is legal-speak for “we read the fine print and we are unimpressed.”
Critics argue that the fees and hoops Apple is introducing could discourage developers from opting out of the App Store, which is a bit like opening all the doors in a prison but charging tenants rent if they try to leave. Apple, ever the perfectionist, has insisted that the policies are necessary and meant to protect users, which would be noble if protection and profit were not frequently found whispering in hallways together.
In summary, Apple has bent to regulators in Brussels but only by about 15 degrees and only while plotting the most elegant way to charge for it. The company says it is complying, regulators say that time will tell if Apple’s compliance is trustworthy and developers are currently rifling through lengthy PDFs looking for loopholes or at least a good laugh.
Turns out the walled garden remains open for business but now comes with a scenic escape hatch and a toll booth.