Apple Says Meta is Making Unreasonable Interoperability Requests Under Europe's DMA Requirements

[MacRumors]

Apple today said that Meta has made 15 interoperability requests under the Digital Markets Act (DMA) in the European Union, which is more than any other company.

In a statement provided to Reuters, Apple said that Meta is asking for changes that could compromise user security and privacy.

In many cases, Meta is seeking to alter functionality in a way that raises concerns about the privacy and security of users, and that appears to be completely unrelated to the actual use of Meta external devices, such as Meta smart glasses and Meta Quest.

If Apple were to have to grant all of these requests, Facebook, Instagram, and WhatsApp could enable Meta to read on a user's device all of their messages and emails, see every phone call they make or receive, track every app that they use, scan all of their photos, look at their files and calendar events, log all of their passwords, and more.

Under the terms of the DMA, which affects iOS and iPadOS, Apple is required to allow app developers to submit interoperability requests for hardware and software. Apple assesses all requests to determine whether they fall into the appropriate article of the DMA, and if so, Apple will design a solution for effective interoperability. Apple warns that the integrity of iOS and iPadOS are "important considerations" and that it may not be feasible for the company to design an effective interoperability solution.

In response to Apple's comments on Meta's requests, Meta said the following: "What Apple is actually saying is they don’t believe in interoperability. Every time Apple is called out for its anticompetitive behavior, they defend themselves on privacy grounds that have no basis in reality."

Apple's complaint about Meta comes as the European Union has shared preliminary findings on proposed measures that Apple should implement for improved interoperability. The European Commission says that Apple needs to give developers a better overview of the iOS components that provide functionalities reserved to Apple, plus Apple is required to design a better process that makes it easier to submit interoperability requests. Apple must also adhere to stricter timelines and avoid delays providing feedback on requested features.

The European Commission is now consulting interested third parties on whether its preliminary findings are sufficient to make Apple's request-based process effective. The EC says that the measures could be adjusted based on feedback from Apple and from third parties.


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.

Article Link: Apple Says Meta is Making Unreasonable Interoperability Requests Under Europe's DMA Requirements

 

[roar08]

Can't wait until Apple just buys the EU. Oh, I guess someone probably already did.

 

[IceCool]

Can't wait until Apple just buys the EU. Oh, I guess someone probably already did.

Perfect comment 😂

 

[jz0309]

Apple said that Meta is asking for changes that could compromise user security and privacy.

No, Meta would not want to have access to users information and data, they are way too honest of a company.
/s

 

[contacos]

More than any other country? META isn't a country

 

[bcollett]

If Apple has to put up with this stuff I hope it becomes a two way street and suddenly Meta and every company has to start open all their apis and functionality to everyone else. See if the medicine tastes as good when they have to take it themselves.

 

[RRK50]

iPhone users should have a say in the matter.

 

[IIGS User]

Meta is evil. Period. I use none of their offerings.

As wholesome and satisfying as shoeSole soup.

 

[DHagan4755]

Meta should go pound sand.

 

[rictus007]

I guess that you get what you voted for (directly or indirectly). The solution would be to not use anything from Meta like WhatsApp? And if so, then we go to the original issue; if someone wanted an open system the solution is Android, and for those who treasure a "walled garden" we have iOS. It is simple: no need to change anything and leave the customer to decide what works for them.

 

[Mikep976]

Everyone’s so angry, and I’m just over here like “uh, yeah actually it’d kind of be great if I could use my Meta Raybans and have it integrate better, or sync photos in the background” or to even have a shot at having the same interoperability with my Quest and I could with the overpriced ski glasses know as AVP.

 

[rgeneral]

EU members should delete all apps made my meta.

 

[icanhazmac]

Everyone’s so angry, and I’m just over here like “uh, yeah actually it’d kind of be great if I could use my Meta Raybans and have it integrate better, or sync photos in the background” or to even have a shot at having the same interoperability with my Quest and I could with the overpriced ski glasses know as AVP.

If Apple were to have to grant all of these requests, Facebook, Instagram, and WhatsApp could enable Meta to read on a user's device all of their messages and emails, see every phone call they make or receive, track every app that they use, scan all of their photos, look at their files and calendar events, log all of their passwords, and more.

Exactly what part of Meta logging ALL of your passwords sounds good to you, please be specific.

 

[contacos]

If Apple were to have to grant all of these requests, Facebook, Instagram, and WhatsApp could enable Meta to read on a user's device all of their messages and emails, see every phone call they make or receive, track every app that they use, scan all of their photos, look at their files and calendar events, log all of their passwords, and more.

Exactly what part of Meta logging ALL of your passwords sounds good to you, please be specific.

Maybe they want to release their own Password manager app, who knows. Most of the stuff they already have access to anyway. Like they already ask to get access to your whole photo library to make suggestions for posts for example. Calenders also isn't really surprising, they need to be able to access the calendar to add events or birthdays?

 

[Abazigal]

I guess Apple could geofence this request and give Facebook unfettered access to user data only to users residing in the EU. I am sure that pro-EU crowd should have no issues with surrendering their data in the name of “fair and open competition”.

 

[Niceisnice]

Everyone’s so angry, and I’m just over here like “uh, yeah actually it’d kind of be great if I could use my Meta Raybans and have it integrate better, or sync photos in the background” or to even have a shot at having the same interoperability with my Quest and I could with the overpriced ski glasses know as AVP.

The problem is that it's hard to have both UX and security.

In that case, Meta being Meta is after their classic data grab play, so it's good to have Apple protecting their users and the EU is mistaken as always. Apple does not have a monopoly on phones and customers are free to choose the product they want, taking in account their features and limitations.

 

[HiVolt]

In response Apple should ask for all of Meta's users data from their platforms.

 

[NT1440]

More than any other country? META isn't a country

META and other large multinational corporations (including Apple) function a little too close to Nation States for my liking…

 

[olavsu1]

This just goes to show that, after the Gator case, spyware is legal and deeply embedded in all kinds of applications.

 

[sir1963nz]

iPhone users should have a say in the matter.

I do, and I have.
Unless services are available via a web browser where I can also run ad blockers, tracker blockers, malware blockers etc etc etc then I do not use that site.
I DO NOT and WILL NOT have an App for that. No google, No Facebook, No Amazon, No X, etc etc etc etc.
If the trade off is that can not use the services, that is 100% fine because I don't anyway.

But here is another example. I looked at a swimming pool testing kit, one had "An App" that you had to use...as in WTAF ?, I bought the one that did not.

I now use "Hide my email" ,j ust because I buy something off a company does NOT mean I want to be spammed, does NOT mean I want to take a survey, does NOT mean "select trusted companies" are entitled to my information etc.

I does often mean I go elsewhere.
There more invasive, creepy , entitled a company gets, the less I have to do with it.

 

[Stiksi]

Apple today said that Meta has made 15 interoperability requests under the Digital Markets Act (DMA) in the European Union, which is more than any other country.

Yes, the EU is more than any other country, because it is not a country but 27 countries. And no, it’s not basically a country with states. Please, just correct the sentence, it’s a bad look.

 

[haemolysis]

Lets not forget this isn't Apple's IP, property, or data. They're talking about user data.

A user should have permission to toggle it on/off for any app or developer they so choose. This includes meta.

Apple are trying to deceive and imply that it's a special permission for Meta, when that's not required by the Act. What is required are the same access right Apple already enjoys. Which actually is "nothing without permission", and "everything with permission."

 

[frenchcamp49er]

Break up META now!

 

[frenchcamp49er]

If this gets allowed anyone sane person should delete anything META off their iPhones

 

[icanhazmac]

If this gets allowed anyone sane person should delete anything META off their iPhones

They should do it now, but they won't. Blinders and heads firmly in the sand.