Key facts
- Italy's competition regulator has opened an investigation into Apple.
- The probe is under the European Digital Markets Act (DMA).
- Apple is accused of not ensuring equal access for third-party cloud services to iOS and iPadOS components compared to its own iCloud.
- This is the first investigation launched by the Italian authority under the DMA.
- The results will be forwarded to the EU Commission.
Italy's competition authority has launched an investigation into Apple concerning its compliance with interoperability requirements under the European Union's Digital Markets Act (DMA).
The probe centers on allegations that Apple has failed to ensure that third-party providers of consumer cloud services can effectively and freely interoperate with hardware and software components of Apple's iOS and iPadOS operating systems.
Specifically, the Italian regulator stated it has evidence suggesting that other cloud service providers do not have the same access to components as Apple's own iCloud service. Under the DMA, companies designated as 'gatekeepers' must provide equal access to their services.
This investigation marks the first initiated by the Italian watchdog under the DMA, a regulation designed to curb the power of large tech companies. The authority confirmed that the outcomes of its investigation will be transmitted to the European Commission.