European Union: Opened consultation in proposed measures for interoperability between Apple’s iOS operating system and connected devices to ensure compliance with Digital Markets Act

On 18 December 2024, the European Commission opened a public consultation on proposed measures to ensure effective interoperability between Apple’s iOS operating system and connected devices, as mandated by Article 6(7) of the Digital Markets Act (DMA). The consultations remain open until 9 January 2025. Under the DMA gatekeepers, large digital platforms, such as Apple, are obligated to provide interoperability and access to their software and hardware features. The consultation focuses especially on features such as notifications, background execution, automatic Bluetooth audio switching, high-bandwidth peer-to-peer Wi-Fi connections, AirDrop, AirPlay, close-range wireless file transfers, media casting, proximity-triggered pairing, automatic Wi-Fi connection, and NFC functionality. The measures were proposed to address concerns raised by the European Commission in the investigation into Apple’s compliance with DMA.