Apple Resists EU Move To Apply DMA Rules To Maps & Ads

EU antitrust regulators are examining whether Apple Maps and Apple Ads should be brought under the Digital Markets Act (DMA), and Apple has argued that both services should be exempt.

The European Commission confirmed that Apple informed regulators that the two services meet the thresholds for possible “gatekeeper” designation. Under the DMA, a service with over 45 million monthly users and a market value above 75 billion euros can be designated as a gatekeeper. Apple’s App Store, iOS, and Safari are already covered. The Commission has 45 working days to decide, after which Apple would have six months to comply if the services are designated. Apple told Reuters that Apple Ads holds a small share of the EU advertising market and that Apple Maps has limited use in the region. Apple has also warned that DMA requirements affect product rollouts and data access rules.