It’s a Wrap: The 2025 DMA Roundup
This 2025 DMA Roundup originally appeared in my DMA Digest Newsletter on LinkedIn – click here to subscribe to my latest updates.
Apple Finally Hears to Sense
The most eye-catching story this quarter was that, due to the DMA cracking down on its monopoly, Apple spent most of autumn threatening to block the new “live” function in its translation app from working with AirPods in Europe, as well as—bizarrely—preventing EU iPhone users from being able to mirror their phones on their MacBooks. Embarrassingly, Tim Cook eventually flip-flopped on the issue, and, since last month, both features are now available in the EU.
In between there were some more antics. At one point, Apple provocatively dangled the idea that because of the DMA, it might one day pull its products from Europe completely. Later, it even petitioned the EU to reform or roll back its flagship digital antitrust legislation, and in November a study it commissioned was published, suggesting the DMA ironically hinders independent developers.
Despite these tantrums, the iPhone manufacturer didn’t get its way. In October, a consumer rights group filed a case against it for DMA noncompliance, and in November, the EU continued examining whether its Maps app might also fall under the DMA. Better luck next year, folks.
Levelling Up: the DMA Finishes Top
The other big news in Q4 was that, in November, months after being ordered to do so, WhatsApp, owned by Mark Zuckerberg’s Meta group, will soon allow third-party messaging, meaning users will be able to DM people using other services too.
Next, a story that flew under the radar of most news platforms: the EU is launching a DMA investigation into the cloud services of Amazon and Microsoft, examining whether they should be designated as gatekeepers. Among other things, this could have a significant impact for online mobile gaming, which thus far has been beholden to these two cloud services. But if the DMA opens the market, things could change.
And then there was Epic. Way back in August, the Fortnite developer won another antitrust case against Apple and Google, this time in Australia. Naturally, Apple hasn’t been happy, and recently accused Epic of wanting a free ride. Rather than stooping to the California giant’s level, however, Epic praised Apple instead, saying that the death of the “scare screen” iOS users were encountering when trying to install third-party app stores—allegedly warning them against doing so—was a step in the right direction. It’s the type of magnanimity you rarely see demonstrated by Silicon Valley giants—perhaps one for their list of New Year’s resolutions.
Winter Wonder: The DMA’s Epic Q4
2025 DMA Roundup Q1: Digital Antitrust Goes Global
The new year started with a bang in the global app economy when the UK launched its own DMA-style legislation, the Digital Markets, Competition, and Consumer Act (DMCC), which went live on New Year’s Day. Since then, it’s made headway in breaking up Silicon Valley’s unfair market advantages, threatening both Apple and Google with noncompliance penalties.
After the UK, it was Brazil’s turn to take the digital antitrust bull by the horns. In March it ordered Apple to allow alternative app stores on iOS within 90 days. And then there was Turkey. In February, it launched the draft of its own analog of the DMA, entitled the Competition Act, which, once passed, will also enable interoperability between apps and devices and allow users to install third-party apps.
With Japan also joining in on the digital antitrust game, it’s been a bad year for Big Tech. Indeed, with more countries cooperating over digital antitrust legislation, it seems as if the days of its global monopoly are almost over.
2025 DMA Roundup Q2: Apple and Meta Fall Foul in Europe
In April, the European Commission finally announced landmark fines against Apple and Meta. Totalling 700 million Euros, the penalties were issued to Apple for breaching the DMA’s anti-steering rules, and to Meta for failing to give users a fair choice over data usage.
Of course, Apple was already trying to argue its way out of the fine before the ink had even dried. “Today’s announcements are yet another example of the European Commission unfairly targeting Apple,” a representative said.
But in both cases, attempts to challenge the fines have thus far come to nothing. As such, I’ve been perplexed all year by news stories and opinion pieces suggesting that either the DMA is failing or lost its purpose. Sometimes, these views have even come from Brussels chiefs themselves. But I just don’t see it. If landmark fines are considered losing, maybe people are setting the bar too high.
2025 DMA Roundup Q3: More Wins for the DMA
Having gotten to grips with being fined 500 million Euros in the previous quarter, Apple finally backed down by the start of summer. In June, it announced that not only would European iOS users be given the ability to download apps from outside the App Store, but that developers could also promote services outside the App Store in their apps and mobile games. Perhaps the EU’s threat of fines amounting to 22 million Euros a day helped them get there?
As the sunny season continued, so did the good news. First, Google—which is still facing a DMA investigation—declared that it would revise its Play Store fees, empowering independent app and mobile gaming developers in Europe. And then, Microsoft agreed to make further DMA-based changes to its Windows 10 and 11 operating systems, including mobile editions, allowing users to delete its app store, select a default browser that isn’t Microsoft Edge, and open pages using search engine Bing via a preferred browser too.
Overall, then, it’s been another great year for Europe’s digital antitrust legislation. So as the US and Europe continue the tug of war over the DMA and its part in the ongoing transatlantic standoff over trade, it’s worth remembering that the only reason there’s so much conjecture around it today is because it works.
And that’s all from me for 2025! thanks for reading my 2025 DMA Roundup.
Happy New Year. Enjoy the festivities.
Robert.
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