Apple said that it will postpone the rollout of several new features for users in the European Union (EU), citing challenges posed by the region's Digital Markets Act (DMA). The company’s legal team confirmed that tools such as a “visited places” service, designed to track user locations, will not be available in the EU with the upcoming iOS 26 software update.
According to a report by The Wall Street Journal, the decision stems from Apple's ongoing efforts to comply with the DMA, an EU law aimed at curbing the market dominance of large tech companies and fostering a more competitive online environment for smaller developers.
What Apple has to say on delayed iOS 26 features in EU
Kyle Andeer, Apple's Vice President of Legal said that the company is concerned that EU compelling it to open its ecosystem to competitors could compromise user security.
“We’ve already had to make the decision to delay the release of products and features, we announced this month for our EU customers," Andeer was quoted as saying during a workshop with EU officials and developers in Brussels.
Apple further noted that it's still evaluating which features might be affected in the EU and is actively seeking solutions to deliver them as quickly as possible. Andeer also broadly criticised the DMA, stating that the changes necessitated by the regulations since last year "create real privacy, security, safety risks to our users."
Apple has previously voiced its criticism of the DMA, arguing that it compromises product quality, exposes users to privacy and security risks, and complicates the deployment of new software features in Europe.
Earlier this year, the European Commission outlined its expectations for Apple's DMA compliance, which included making it easier for third-party smartwatches and headphones to connect with Apple devices, improving the user experience with such accessories, and granting developers greater access to Apple's software.
According to a report by The Wall Street Journal, the decision stems from Apple's ongoing efforts to comply with the DMA, an EU law aimed at curbing the market dominance of large tech companies and fostering a more competitive online environment for smaller developers.
What Apple has to say on delayed iOS 26 features in EU
Kyle Andeer, Apple's Vice President of Legal said that the company is concerned that EU compelling it to open its ecosystem to competitors could compromise user security.
“We’ve already had to make the decision to delay the release of products and features, we announced this month for our EU customers," Andeer was quoted as saying during a workshop with EU officials and developers in Brussels.
Apple further noted that it's still evaluating which features might be affected in the EU and is actively seeking solutions to deliver them as quickly as possible. Andeer also broadly criticised the DMA, stating that the changes necessitated by the regulations since last year "create real privacy, security, safety risks to our users."
Apple has previously voiced its criticism of the DMA, arguing that it compromises product quality, exposes users to privacy and security risks, and complicates the deployment of new software features in Europe.
Earlier this year, the European Commission outlined its expectations for Apple's DMA compliance, which included making it easier for third-party smartwatches and headphones to connect with Apple devices, improving the user experience with such accessories, and granting developers greater access to Apple's software.
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