EU to Close Antitrust Investigation into Apple's Browser Choice Screen

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The European Commission is set to close its year-long investigation into Apple's default browser choice screen on iPhones in the EU after the company made changes to comply with the requirements in the Digital Markets Act (via Reuters).

default browser choice screen updates eu
The Commission launched a non-compliance investigation in March last year under the DMA, concerned that Apple's design of the web browser choice screen could be preventing users from properly exercising their choice of alternative default apps to Safari.

With iOS 17.4. Apple made it so that users in the EU who open Safari for the first time are presented with a choice screen that allows them to opt for a new default browser from a list of popular alternatives in their country. However, browser companies have been openly critical of the way Apple originally designed the screen, and the Commission's probe was conducted in consultation with those companies.

The browser companies encouraged regulators to push for a stronger implementation to level the competitive playing field, and it sounds like they got the improvements they wanted. Apple made several changes to the screen in question last October with the release of iOS 18.2.

Apple had good reason to abide by its DMA requirements. In cases of infringement, the Commission can impose fines up to 10% of the company's total worldwide turnover. Such fines can go up to 20% in case of repeated infringement under the DMA. The Commission also has the power to adopt "additional remedies" such as "obliging a gatekeeper to sell a business or parts of it," or banning the company from acquisitions of additional services related to the non-compliance.

Apple is still under non-compliance investigation by the Commission for anti-steering rules. The probe is looking at whether the company allows developers to "steer" users away from its App Store and link to alternate payment methods.

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Tags: Apple Antitrust, European Commission, European Union

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Top Rated Comments

cicalinarrot Avatar
cicalinarrot
12 months ago

At the end of the day does the average user even care about this.
That's exactly the point, Apple has been profiting out of consumers who didn't even know they had an option.
Score: 18 Votes (Like | Disagree)
CarAnalogy Avatar
CarAnalogy
12 months ago

Stupid as ****. Like, what benefit does Apple even get for people to use Safari?
The same benefit they get for people using all their apps. The ecosystem lock-in.

Also it's literally the very last and only browser that's not just an ad-serving or personal data hoovering machine.

People need a browser so for better or worse I hope Apple never gives up on Safari. Chrome and Edge only exist to try to suck all of your digital data into their monetization engines and lock you into using their accounts.

Safari is the last browser (engine maker) where the user's interests and the browser maker's interests are even close to aligned.

Mozilla has lost their way and everything else is just a Chromium skin.
Score: 14 Votes (Like | Disagree)
JonathanParker Avatar
JonathanParker
12 months ago
This browser choice screen literally looks like the most non-biased ranking of browsers ever.

It is ridiculous that the EU thinks it’s Apple’s job to do all the advertising work for other browsers.

There is a list of browsers in that setup screen. No one is favoured more than the other. Safari didn’t get special treatment or a big highlight.
Score: 13 Votes (Like | Disagree)
John_Blackthorne Avatar
John_Blackthorne
12 months ago

That's exactly the point, Apple has been profiting out of consumers who didn't even know they had an option.
Most people don't even care. The idea there was some great "harm" in people not knowing of another browser they can use? Laughable.

The EU--solving the most pressing issues of our time. Lol--certainly there are more important things in Europe to worry about than whether (reads page...) people don't know their phone has a different browser.

And if you interviewed Euros, they'd probably be like, "Oh man, ANOTHER splash-option screen--can I just turn my new phone on?" Lol.
Score: 9 Votes (Like | Disagree)
ELman Avatar
ELman
12 months ago
At the end of the day does the average user even care about this.
Score: 8 Votes (Like | Disagree)
0049190 Avatar
0049190
12 months ago

A few years ago, the EU introduced the GDPR, which led to the constant need to manage cookie settings whenever we visit a website. In most cases, we can’t simply select “No” outright—we have to navigate through settings and manually adjust what we allow. Some websites use frustrating tactics, such as listing dozens of vendors (sometimes 50 or more), requiring users to opt out individually.

If the EU genuinely prioritized user privacy, they could have mandated browser companies to include a straightforward “Yes” or “No” button by default.

For example, MacRumors uses at least 95 vendors under the category of “Develop and Maintain” purposes. The site provides three options: “Decline All,” “Save & Close,” and “Accept All.” However, MacRumors has pre-selected “Legitimate Interest” (GDPR 6.1.f), granting access to certain vendors by default. Unless users actively choose to decline all, major companies will still collect their data.

Ultimately, GDPR was designed to give users control over their data, but in practice, it often results in companies obtaining user data with implicit permission—sometimes without them fully realizing it.

So, I don't trust EU politicians at all.
I agree they made a mistake, the current system is a mess. They should have just banned all tracking cookies to protect user privacy.
Score: 7 Votes (Like | Disagree)
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