In Europe, Apple will permit users to install third-party apps

In a recent development, Apple disclosed forthcoming adjustments to its iOS, Safari, and App Store services to align with the regulatory demands of the European Union’s Digital Markets Act (DMA). These alterations are slated to be integrated into all new Apple devices that come with the iOS 17.4 update scheduled for March 2024.

In Europe, Apple will permit users to install third-party apps

In light of the EU’s new DMA legislation passed in July 2022—which targets major tech entities such as Apple, Google, Facebook, and Amazon to promote market fairness—Apple is poised to permit the installation of apps from alternative sources beyond its own App Store in Europe.

The impending policy shift will empower iPhone users within EU territories to procure applications from external app vendors, imposing potential discrepancies from Apple’s usual app oversight. Even so, these apps will require Apple’s nod of approval for ensuring consumer protection. Additionally, prior user consent will be mandatory for app installations, offering flexibility for users to designate third-party platforms as their default app procurement channels over the customary Apple App Store.

Addressing these updates, Phil Schiller—an executive overseeing the App Store at Apple—noted the company’s compliance with EU mandates but underscored his caution over user risk elevation due to said changes.

“We’ve formulated our plans today abiding by the stipulations of the Digital Markets Act enforced within the EU while simultaneously striving to safeguard EU users against inherent privacy and security perils associated with this regulation,” he observed.

He warned about threats such as malicious software, deceptive schemes, and unsuitable or injurious content. He asserted that these alterations could curtail Apple’s efficacy in policing harmful mobile applications and diminish their ability to offer remedies for users afflicted by problems originating from apps acquired outside its official marketplace.

For developers, this revamp facilitates alternatives beyond Apple’s own payment systems for in-app procurements, liberating them from any fiscal charges imposed by Apple when opting for third-party payment services within their apps hosted on the App Store.

Ensuring robust security measures remain a priority; all software must undergo a validation process (termed Notarization), while distribution via other marketplaces will continue under Apple’s oversight. The company has also proposed a decreased commission rate—one that amounts to 17 percent—on digital goods and services transactions conducted within apps. Moreover, developers qualifying for specific promotional schemes with Apple will be subjected only to a 10 percent fee.