EU to Close Antitrust Investigation into Apple's Browser Choice Screen - MacRumors
Skip to Content

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

by

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.

Note: Due to the political or social nature of the discussion regarding this topic, the discussion thread is located in our Political News forum. All forum members and site visitors are welcome to read and follow the thread, but posting is limited to forum members with at least 100 posts.

Tags: Apple Antitrust, European Commission, European Union

Popular Stories

Apple Objects to Keyboard Makers Logo Feature

Apple Wins EU Challenge Over Keyboard Maker's Citrus Logo

Wednesday May 6, 2026 11:48 am PDT by
Apple objected to a European trademark filing from a Chinese keyboard maker because the logo the company wanted to use was too close to Apple's own logo. The EU Intellectual Property Office (EUIPO) partially refused to grant a European Union Trade Mark after Apple opposed the filing. The company, Yichun Qinningmeng Electronics Co., makes mechanical keyboards and keycaps, according to its...
Read Full Article • 70 comments
apple india

Apple Withholds Data as India Antitrust Case Advances to Final Hearing

Monday April 20, 2026 4:55 am PDT by
Apple is facing a fast-track decision on regulatory penalties in India because it has not submitted data sought by the country's antitrust body as part of an investigation into its market practices. The Competition Commission of India (CCI) ⁠published a report in 2024 that Apple exploited its dominant position in the apps market by forcing developers to use its proprietary in-app purchase...
Read Full Article • 24 comments
rave app

Apple Sued for Pulling Co-Viewing App Rave From the App Store

Thursday May 7, 2026 10:41 am PDT by
Rave, a cross-platform service that lets users watch movies and TV shows together, today filed a series of antitrust lawsuits against Apple after Apple removed the Rave app from the App Store in August 2025. According to Rave, Apple cited "unspecified allegations of fraud and vague concerns about content moderation" when pulling the app. Rave alleges Apple targeted the service because Rave...
Read Full Article • 55 comments

Top Rated Comments

cicalinarrot Avatar
cicalinarrot
15 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)
C
CarAnalogy
15 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
15 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)
J
John_Blackthorne
15 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)
E
ELman
15 months ago
At the end of the day does the average user even care about this.
Score: 8 Votes (Like | Disagree)
0
0049190
15 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)
Read All Comments