Apple Pushes Back Against EU Over ‘Walled Garden’ Rules
Apple has criticized European Union regulators for targeting its tightly integrated ecosystem, warning that new rules could strip away the “magical, innovative experience” its products are known for.
Apple Defends Its Ecosystem
Ahead of the launch of its latest devices, Apple executive Greg Joswiak said that “bureaucrats in Brussels” are threatening the company’s signature model, which blends hardware, software, and services into what it calls a secure and seamless user experience.
For years, Apple has argued that its so-called walled garden protects users by ensuring safety, privacy, and quality. However, EU officials see it differently, accusing the company of anti-competitive practices that lock out rivals. This dispute recently led to a €500 million ($586m) fine against Apple over its App Store rules.
What the Digital Markets Act Means for Apple
The EU’s Digital Markets Act (DMA), introduced in 2022 and fully enforced since 2024, directly challenges Apple’s model. Under the rules, Apple must:
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Allow third-party headphones and smartwatches to work seamlessly with iPhones.
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Enable notifications from non-Apple wearables, not just the Apple Watch.
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Open AirDrop-style features to competing platforms.
Consumer advocates argue this will give users greater choice and prevent big tech firms from unfairly locking in customers. “It’s important to tackle the walled garden problem and provide consumers with more options,” said Sébastien Pant of BEUC, a coalition of consumer rights groups.
Apple Holds Back Features in Europe
Apple, however, says these requirements risk undermining innovation and user trust. The company recently launched its AirPods Pro 3 in the US, featuring “Live Translation” — a tool that lets users hear conversations in their preferred language through their AirPods. But the feature won’t be available in Europe for now.
According to Apple, the translation technology relies on AirPods and iPhones working together, and extending it to non-Apple devices would require extra engineering work to maintain privacy and security standards.
“They want to take away the magic of Apple’s integrated experience and make us like everyone else,” Joswiak said at a press briefing in Cupertino.
Growing Public Dispute With Regulators
Although Apple has typically kept its disputes with regulators behind closed doors, the company has recently become more vocal. Last week, the European Commission rejected Apple’s appeal to scrap most of its compliance requirements under the DMA.
Apple has also warned the UK’s Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) against mirroring EU rules, arguing that such moves would harm innovation and degrade user experience.
European regulators, Joswiak said, are “creating a worse experience for their citizens — our users. They’re undermining innovation, infringing our intellectual property, and damaging privacy and security.”
Wider Industry Impact
Apple is not the only company holding back features in Europe due to the DMA. Meta delayed the launch of its social platform Threads in the EU for months, while Apple itself postponed rolling out its Apple Intelligence AI tools in the region.
For now, the standoff highlights a growing rift between Silicon Valley tech giants and European regulators — a battle over whether user protection means tighter control or more freedom of choice.