Apple TV, Siri Targeted in EU Broadcaster Complaint Citing DMA Rules

[MacRumors]

A coalition of Europe's biggest broadcasters is pushing the EU to bring smart TV platforms like Apple TV and virtual assistants like Siri under the bloc's toughest tech regulation, reports Reuters.

The Association of Commercial Television and Video on Demand Services in Europe (ACT), whose members include Disney, NBCUniversal, Paramount+, and Sky, sent a letter on Monday to EU antitrust chief Teresa Ribera arguing that smart TV operating systems from Google, Amazon, Apple, and Samsung should be designated as gatekeepers under the Digital Markets Act (DMA).

Under the DMA, any platform with more than 45 million monthly active EU users and a market valuation above €75 billion is presumed to be a gatekeeper, subject to obligations designed to curb self-preferencing and increase interoperability.

To evidence their claim, the broadcasters cited market data showing Android TV's share grew from 16 percent to 23 percent between 2019 and 2024, while Amazon Fire OS climbed from 5 percent to 12 percent. Samsung's Tizen holds 24 percent, but Apple TV's share was not referenced.

The ACT also wants virtual assistants like Alexa and Siri brought under the DMA, arguing that the current lack of regulation has left AI assistants free to act as de facto gatekeepers for media content across phones, smart speakers, and car infotainment systems.

The European Commission confirmed it received the letter and is reviewing it. So far, Apple, Google, Amazon, and Samsung have not commented.

Apple's App Store, iOS, and Safari are already classified as DMA gatekeepers. A separate review into whether Apple Maps and Apple Ads meet the threshold was concluded last month, with regulators ruling that neither qualified due to low usage in Europe.

Notably, the broadcasters' letter asks the Commission to apply the DMA based on "qualitative criteria," even where platforms don't hit the usual quantitative benchmarks outlined in the regulations.

The request may sound like it's on shaky ground, but the DMA does actually have a provision for this circumstance – the EC can designate a company as a gatekeeper even if it doesn't meet the hard numeric thresholds stated above. It can look instead at factors like the platform's size, number of business users, network effects, lock-in, and structural market characteristics. In fact, this is how the Commission designated iPadOS as having gatekeeper status, even though it didn't meet the quantitative threshold.

In practice, though, the Commission is likely to be cautious about using this approach because it's messier than quantitative rules and easier to challenge in court. Apple is very likely to contest it, especially given that Apple TV's market share appears to be relatively small. Whether the same will apply to Siri is another matter, since it's tied to the iPhone and the EU already considers that a gatekeeper platform.

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 TV, Siri Targeted in EU Broadcaster Complaint Citing DMA Rules

 

[neuropsychguy]

Which big business does the EU side with? Disney, NBCUniversal, Paramount+, and Sky or Google, Amazon, Samsung, and Apple?

I don't think Disney, NBCUniversal, Paramount+, and Sky are trying to have the EU regulate because they want what's best for consumers. That's not to say that Google, Amazon, Samsung, and Apple are inherently pro-consumer either.

It's difficult to make any sort of judgment about this without reading the letter containing the arguments of the companies and how this might or might not fit within the EU framework and legal systems.

 

[WilliApple]

hopefully this makes tvOS not a restricted OS where it just deletes app data after a certain amount of megabytes. That’s why I don’t support apps on tvOS these days too limiting.

If not, Europe go away

 

[tonmischa]

And once again, the stage is set for clueless Americans to flaunt their ignorance and prejudice against the EU.
I’m going to grab some popcorn.

 

[Kidseeghost]

…

 

[IceCool]

And once again, the stage is set for those clueless Americans to flaunt their ignorance and prejudice against the EU. I’m going to grab some popcorn.

Let me fix that for you:

“And once again, the stage is set for those clueless Europeans to flaunt their ignorance against government overreach. I’m going to grab some popcorn.”

You’re welcome ☺️

 

[surferfb]

Even if the EU decided to meddle here, which I seriously doubt it will, I can't imagine this would apply to Apple given they only make the AppleTV box that consumers buy after the fact and don't have tvOS pre-installed on TVs.

That said, we are taking about EU regulators here, so.....

 

[turbineseaplane]

This sort of stuff must really frustrate Tim Cook, as he's not a political person at all.

 

[Nekronos]

And once again, the stage is set for clueless Americans to flaunt their ignorance and prejudice against the EU.
I’m going to grab some popcorn.

Seems clueless and ignorant of you to paint Americans with such a wide brush.

One need not be American to realize the folly of the EU with such out of touch, arbitrary determining factors of what a gatekeeper is that invites baseless complaints such as this.

 

[neuropsychguy]

And once again, the stage is set for clueless Americans to flaunt their ignorance and prejudice against the EU.
I’m going to grab some popcorn.

Rather than just grabbing that popcorn and quietly eating it, you flaunted your prejudice against Americans.... That's certainly one way to jump into this discussion! That's like doing a cannonball in an Olympic diving competition. 😉

Also, if you don't want to hear from "clueless Americans", it's a little hard for Americans to not be part of the discussion when most of the companies on both sides of this are American.

 

[tonmischa]

government overreach

use of the 1798 Alien Enemies Act for mass deportations, unlawful termination of federal employees via the "DOGE" initiative, and the deployment of federal agents to local cities

"People who live in glass houses shouldn’t throw stones" LOL

 

[tonmischa]

Rather than just eating popcorn, you flaunted your prejudice against Americans.... That's certainly one way to jump into this discussion!

I am just imitating what hundreds of US posters have done in the past in similar topics. I thought you wanted to be seen as role models?

 

[CarAnalogy]

What do they actually want though? It's not clear to me from this article. I'm assuming they want the "right" to junk up the Apple TV interface and insert more of their own advertising and anti-user practices.

 

[turbineseaplane]

What do they actually want though? It's not clear to me from this article. I'm assuming they want the "right" to junk up the Apple TV interface and insert more of their own advertising and anti-user practices.

Given the recent Apple Maps news, I'm not sure Apple will need any help doing that, if given enough time.

Hey, have you guys heard about the Apple F1 movie?

 

[tonmischa]

One need not be American to realize the folly of the EU with such out of touch, arbitrary determining factors of what a gatekeeper is that invites baseless complaints such as this.

European posters usually have a more rational approach in these discussions. They use facts to justify their positions.

 

[CarAnalogy]

Which big business does the EU side with? Disney, NBCUniversal, Paramount+, and Sky or Google, Amazon, Samsung, and Apple?

I don't think Disney, NBCUniversal, Paramount+, and Sky are trying to have the EU regulate because they want what's best for consumers. That's not to say that Google, Amazon, Samsung, and Apple are pro-consumer either.

It's difficult to make any sort of judgment about this without reading the letter containing the arguments of the companies and how this might or might not fit within the EU framework and legal systems.

Don't worry, none of this is about what's best for us. They're just fighting over who gets to control what we see.

 

[Nekronos]

European posters usually have a more rational approach in these discussions. They use facts to justify their positions.

Another broad brush, do you see the irony? Do you count yourself among these supposed Europeans using facts and ration? Or are you American given you have absolutely no facts to back up such claims?

 

[tonmischa]

Another broad brush, do you see the irony?

Of course I do. LOL. glad to see you do too!

 

[christophermdia]

I'd love to see everyone pull out of Europe .. they can go back to using Nokia and a DOS operating system. While not the fault of the average Europeans, the regulators have determined that the only way for them to live somewhat sustainably is to fine companies for their success. "Well Apple has Billions, no big deal if we take 20 of them". Their perceived value of using a product is very skewed and think its their inherent right to benefit from the profits that other companies make. this is absurd.

 

[tonmischa]

I'd love to see everyone pull out of Europe .. they can go back to using Nokia and a DOS operating system. While not the fault of the average Europeans, the regulators have determined that the only way for them to live somewhat sustainably is to fine companies for their success. "Well Apple has Billions, no big deal if we take 20 of them". Their perceived value of using a product is very skewed and think its their inherent right to benefit from the profits that other companies make. this is absurd.

Look @Nekronos @neuropsychguy . This is exactly what I am talking about. What kind of post is this? Where are your comments and laughing reactions now, hm?

 

[techfirth]

It tells you a lot about the DMA when companies like Disney, Paramount+ and NBCUniversal feel they can go crying to the EU about platforms that all of them have well functioning apps on, with millions of users.

 

[michaelsaxon]

The EU builds nothing but regulation.

 

[tonmischa]

The EU builds nothing but regulation.

Look @Nekronos @neuropsychguy . Broad brush, hm?

 

[SpotOnT]

I don’t even understand what these lobbyists want here….

They want Apple to let them run Siri on their own hardware (cars, TVs, etc)? They want to control how Siri works on Apples hardware?

Why would any company develop an AI assistant if everyone else can control it however they want?

I guess maybe all AI assistants could be developed by the government and be public. Make it illegal for private companies to develop their own AI or something.

I don’t know, I really just don’t understand this one.

 

[Nekronos]

Look @Nekronos @neuropsychguy . This is exactly what I am talking about. What kind of post is this? Where are your comments and laughing reactions now, hm?

That's clearly partly in jest but not an unreasonable take and is certainly less dramatic than your comments. What exactly is it you are on about?

I initially thought your posts are just satire but clearly you are doing little more than trolling.

While the EU has had a few good points here and there, this is not one of them - the EU regulatory body has largely been acting like the bully it is supposedly trying to combat.

There is a reason why innovation out of the EU is limited and it is precisely because of stifling regulation such as this that while may or may not have started out of consumer interests ends up being more about control and politicians swinging a big stick than anything else.

Look @Nekronos @neuropsychguy . Broad brush, hm?

I hope you realize that is not a gotcha nor does take away from your own sweeping comments.