Apple files revised EU Digital Markets Act plan, pledges wider iOS openness on browsers, tap‑to‑pay, and app steering
Enzo Reno ·
Apple on Wednesday submitted an amended compliance plan to the European Commission, saying it will expand third party browser engine support, widen tap to pay access, and loosen app steering limits for developers across the European Economic Area. The filing is Apple’s latest response to the Commission’s formal non compliance probe under the Digital Markets Act opened on March 25, 2024 in Brussels.
The update matters because the DMA allows fines of up to 10 percent of a gatekeeper’s worldwide turnover, and up to 20 percent for repeated violations. Apple reported 2023 net sales of 383.3 billion dollars, so maximum exposure could exceed 38 billion dollars if regulators find persistent breaches.
What changes Apple says it will make Apple said it will permit third party browser engines to run on iPhone and iPad in the EEA, lifting the long standing WebKit requirement for browsers distributed there. It also said it will extend near field communication application programming interfaces used for tap to pay so banks and wallet providers can offer contactless payments without relying on Apple Pay.
On app distribution and steering, Apple said developers will be able to communicate alternative pricing and payment options to users inside their apps with new in app disclosures, and to direct users to external purchasing flows with fewer restrictions. The company said it will maintain integrity and security reviews for alternative distribution options, including marketplace apps, consistent with the DMA’s security carve outs.
Regulatory context and market stakes The Commission’s ongoing non compliance cases target alleged anti steering rules, limitations on alternative app stores, and constraints on browser engines by designated gatekeepers. The DMA also enables the Commission to impose periodic penalty payments and to order behavioral or structural remedies if violations persist.
Apple had already offered separate commitments in 2024 to open NFC access for mobile wallets following an EU antitrust investigation, which the Commission said would apply for 10 years. Spotify, Epic Games, and the Coalition for App Fairness previously criticized Apple’s initial DMA approach in early 2024, arguing that fees and technical constraints blunted effective choice, and their reactions to Wednesday’s filing will shape how Brussels assesses real world compliance.
For the wider industry, Apple’s latest concessions signal how platform rules are hardening in Europe and how mobile ecosystems may need to standardize interfaces for payments, browsers, and distribution. Any final Commission decision will influence rival gatekeepers such as Google and Amazon, set a template for the UK under the Digital Markets, Competition and Consumers Act, and inform U.S. antitrust remedies under active cases against large platforms.