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I don’t like that Apple feels emboldened to demand that laws be repealed. I don’t recall if Apple has done this in the past but it’s a shift in tone that makes

I don’t like that Apple feels emboldened to demand that laws be repealed. I don’t recall if Apple has done this in the past but it’s a shift in tone that makes me uncomfortable.

crossroadsguy 1y ago
It’s about who blinks first — or at least that’s what Apple thinks. Just keep in perspective at what acute angle Apple bends in China. It’ll be a shame if EU chooses to blink.
tiahura 1y ago
You can only shake someone down so many times before they say no mas. There have been hints from the US administration that they recognized the DMA as something to be addressed. I'd imagine it was a topic of conversation when Cook gave Trump the gold statue.
- 0xDEAFBEAD 1y ago
  For context, here's some background on why US companies view the DMA as a shakedown: https://www.piratewires.com/p/eu-weaponizes-regulation-us-tech-companies https://www.piratewires.com/p/eu-weaponizes-regulation-us-te...
  - immibis 1y ago
    TLDR: because it's a regulation they have to follow and regulations are shakedowns (according to those who are regulated)
SpicyLemonZest 1y ago
I think you’re inferring a tone from the headline that isn’t actually present in Apple’s statement. They’re not demanding anything, they just think it would be a good idea.
0xDEAFBEAD 1y ago
The actual words from Apple quoted in the article: >The DMA should be repealed while a more appropriate fit for purpose legislative instrument is put in place... Despite our concerns with the DMA, teams across Apple are spending thousands of hours to bring new features to the European Union while meeting the law’s requirements. But it’s become clear that we can’t solve every problem the DMA creates. The headline could just have easily said "Apple Requests" or "Apple Suggests". I doubt it would make waves if Apple expressed the same opinion about some US legislation. Is Apple allowed to have an opinion about legislation in other countries where it operates?
- Nathanba 1y ago
  > Is Apple allowed to have an opinion about legislation in other countries where it operates? Laws like the DMA were specifically made to fight the influence of mega corporations like Apple. For them to use language like "it should be repealed" instead of "it should be changed" shows their intent.
  - 0xDEAFBEAD 1y ago
    I mean, they suggest creating a "more appropriate fit for purpose legislative instrument". Seems like you're kinda splitting hairs? I support the EU's right to shape their digital environment. But if you're being threatened with fines on the order of $38 billion which are levied based on vague, ever-changing rules, then of course you will want that situation to go away while the law gets fixed. On the other hand, cynically speaking, maybe "fighting Apple's influence" through arbitrary fines is actually the point.
    - matheusmoreira 1y ago
      Considering that Apple has created their own digital fiefdom with users as their serfs, I'd say arbitrary fines are not nearly enough.
      - 0xDEAFBEAD 1y ago
beloch 1y ago
A similar thing worked for Google when they were trying to stop Canada's Digital Services Tax. You can probably expect Trump to start threatening more tariff's over this any day now, although Tim Cook might need to have another 24K gold plaque made first.
ajross 1y ago
FWIW, the headline is spun. Apple is providing feedback for the law via a routine legislative process. But yeah, they hate the law and they want it repealed, and they said so. I mean, I think they're wrong. But that said... what's the argument here? Apple shouldn't be allowed to say that they hate a law that they actually hate? Apple should absolutely feel entitled ("emboldened" even) to express their opinions. That's the whole point about civil discourse, no?
isodev 1y ago
All arguments Apple puts in their statement are political, not real technical issues. Apple is acting like a country now.
next_xibalba 1y ago
“Demand” is pure clickbait editorializing on the part of this article’s author. Here is the actual comment from Apple: https://www.apple.com/newsroom/2025/09/the-digital-markets-acts-impacts-on-eu-users/ https://www.apple.com/newsroom/2025/09/the-digital-markets-a... Which doesn’t read like a demand to me. Now, we may all agree or disagree with Apple’s claim, but characterizing it as a “demand” is pure modern journalism.
- disgruntledphd2 1y ago
  I read that statement and while I have some sympathy for the technical and privacy challenges, they made their bed by using the iPhone to lock people into the rest of their ecosystem, which is illegal under EU law.
  - next_xibalba 1y ago
    Fair enough. But totally orthogonal to the point I'm making.
cortesoft 1y ago
Companies have been lobbying for laws for as long as there have been companies and laws.

I don’t like that Apple feels emboldened to demand that laws be repealed. I don’t recall if Apple has done this in the past but it’s a shift in tone that makes me uncomfortable.

crossroadsguy 1y ago

It’s about who blinks first — or at least that’s what Apple thinks. Just keep in perspective at what acute angle Apple bends in China. It’ll be a shame if EU chooses to blink.

tiahura 1y ago

You can only shake someone down so many times before they say no mas. There have been hints from the US administration that they recognized the DMA as something to be addressed. I'd imagine it was a topic of conversation when Cook gave Trump the gold statue.

0xDEAFBEAD 1y ago
For context, here's some background on why US companies view the DMA as a shakedown: https://www.piratewires.com/p/eu-weaponizes-regulation-us-tech-companies https://www.piratewires.com/p/eu-weaponizes-regulation-us-te...
- immibis 1y ago
  TLDR: because it's a regulation they have to follow and regulations are shakedowns (according to those who are regulated)

SpicyLemonZest 1y ago

I think you’re inferring a tone from the headline that isn’t actually present in Apple’s statement. They’re not demanding anything, they just think it would be a good idea.

0xDEAFBEAD 1y ago

The actual words from Apple quoted in the article: >The DMA should be repealed while a more appropriate fit for purpose legislative instrument is put in place... Despite our concerns with the DMA, teams across Apple are spending thousands of hours to bring new features to the European Union while meeting the law’s requirements. But it’s become clear that we can’t solve every problem the DMA creates. The headline could just have easily said "Apple Requests" or "Apple Suggests". I doubt it would make waves if Apple expressed the same opinion about some US legislation. Is Apple allowed to have an opinion about legislation in other countries where it operates?

Nathanba 1y ago
> Is Apple allowed to have an opinion about legislation in other countries where it operates? Laws like the DMA were specifically made to fight the influence of mega corporations like Apple. For them to use language like "it should be repealed" instead of "it should be changed" shows their intent.
- 0xDEAFBEAD 1y ago
  I mean, they suggest creating a "more appropriate fit for purpose legislative instrument". Seems like you're kinda splitting hairs? I support the EU's right to shape their digital environment. But if you're being threatened with fines on the order of $38 billion which are levied based on vague, ever-changing rules, then of course you will want that situation to go away while the law gets fixed. On the other hand, cynically speaking, maybe "fighting Apple's influence" through arbitrary fines is actually the point.
  - matheusmoreira 1y ago
    Considering that Apple has created their own digital fiefdom with users as their serfs, I'd say arbitrary fines are not nearly enough.
    - 0xDEAFBEAD 1y ago

beloch 1y ago

A similar thing worked for Google when they were trying to stop Canada's Digital Services Tax. You can probably expect Trump to start threatening more tariff's over this any day now, although Tim Cook might need to have another 24K gold plaque made first.

ajross 1y ago

FWIW, the headline is spun. Apple is providing feedback for the law via a routine legislative process. But yeah, they hate the law and they want it repealed, and they said so. I mean, I think they're wrong. But that said... what's the argument here? Apple shouldn't be allowed to say that they hate a law that they actually hate? Apple should absolutely feel entitled ("emboldened" even) to express their opinions. That's the whole point about civil discourse, no?

isodev 1y ago

All arguments Apple puts in their statement are political, not real technical issues. Apple is acting like a country now.

next_xibalba 1y ago

“Demand” is pure clickbait editorializing on the part of this article’s author. Here is the actual comment from Apple: https://www.apple.com/newsroom/2025/09/the-digital-markets-acts-impacts-on-eu-users/ https://www.apple.com/newsroom/2025/09/the-digital-markets-a... Which doesn’t read like a demand to me. Now, we may all agree or disagree with Apple’s claim, but characterizing it as a “demand” is pure modern journalism.

disgruntledphd2 1y ago
I read that statement and while I have some sympathy for the technical and privacy challenges, they made their bed by using the iPhone to lock people into the rest of their ecosystem, which is illegal under EU law.
- next_xibalba 1y ago
  Fair enough. But totally orthogonal to the point I'm making.

cortesoft 1y ago

Companies have been lobbying for laws for as long as there have been companies and laws.