EU to Close Antitrust Investigation into Apple's Browser Choice Screen

[MacRumors]

The European Commission is set to close its year-long investigation into Apple's default browser choice screen on iPhones in the EU after the company made changes to comply with the requirements in the Digital Markets Act (via Reuters).

The Commission launched a non-compliance investigation in March last year under the DMA, concerned that Apple's design of the web browser choice screen could be preventing users from properly exercising their choice of alternative default apps to Safari.

With iOS 17.4. Apple made it so that users in the EU who open Safari for the first time are presented with a choice screen that allows them to opt for a new default browser from a list of popular alternatives in their country. However, browser companies have been openly critical of the way Apple originally designed the screen, and the Commission's probe was conducted in consultation with those companies.

The browser companies encouraged regulators to push for a stronger implementation to level the competitive playing field, and it sounds like they got the improvements they wanted. Apple made several changes to the screen in question last October with the release of iOS 18.2.

Apple had good reason to abide by its DMA requirements. In cases of infringement, the Commission can impose fines up to 10% of the company's total worldwide turnover. Such fines can go up to 20% in case of repeated infringement under the DMA. The Commission also has the power to adopt "additional remedies" such as "obliging a gatekeeper to sell a business or parts of it," or banning the company from acquisitions of additional services related to the non-compliance.

Apple is still under non-compliance investigation by the Commission for anti-steering rules. The probe is looking at whether the company allows developers to "steer" users away from its App Store and link to alternate payment methods.

Note: Due to the political or social nature of the discussion regarding this topic, the discussion thread is located in our Political News forum. All forum members and site visitors are welcome to read and follow the thread, but posting is limited to forum members with at least 100 posts.

Article Link: EU to Close Antitrust Investigation into Apple's Browser Choice Screen

 

[JonathanParker]

This browser choice screen literally looks like the most non-biased ranking of browsers ever.

It is ridiculous that the EU thinks it’s Apple’s job to do all the advertising work for other browsers.

There is a list of browsers in that setup screen. No one is favoured more than the other. Safari didn’t get special treatment or a big highlight.

 

[John_Blackthorne]

you.com? Never heard of that one.

 

[ELman]

At the end of the day does the average user even care about this.

 

[cicalinarrot]

After years of forcing their browser with Google as default search engine because Meta gave them huge amounts of money. While marketing their devices as privacy-focused.
That money should be seized.

Edit: meant Alphabet, of course, sorry 😅

 

[cicalinarrot]

At the end of the day does the average user even care about this.

That's exactly the point, Apple has been profiting out of consumers who didn't even know they had an option.

 

[John_Blackthorne]

That's exactly the point, Apple has been profiting out of consumers who didn't even know they had an option.

Most people don't even care. The idea there was some great "harm" in people not knowing of another browser they can use? Laughable.

The EU--solving the most pressing issues of our time. Lol--certainly there are more important things in Europe to worry about than whether (reads page...) people don't know their phone has a different browser.

And if you interviewed Euros, they'd probably be like, "Oh man, ANOTHER splash-option screen--can I just turn my new phone on?" Lol.

 

[senttoschool]

EU politicians make great tech product managers. Let EU politicians design our iPhones and apps. They're very talented.

I'd really like to use a phone designed by EU politicians. I love cookie prompts and I want warnings in every little thing I do on my phone.

 

[cocky jeremy]

Stupid as ****. Like, what benefit does Apple even get for people to use Safari?

 

[Plutonius]

I wonder what the EU will fine Apple for next ?

 

[CarAnalogy]

That's exactly the point, Apple has been profiting out of consumers who didn't even know they had an option.

I mean, the way iOS is designed, they only barely have an option. For better or worse, on iOS third party browsers are basically just third party bookmark and such syncing services because it's all just Safari Webviews.

The only commercial reason to ship a browser on iOS is to get user data and ad money from search referral deals.

That's what's funny about that choice screen, they all claim to be the fastest browser but they're all using the exact same engine.

 

[breather]

After years of forcing their browser with Google as default search engine because Meta gave them huge amounts of money. While marketing their devices as privacy-focused.
That money should be seized.

Meta?

 

[CarAnalogy]

Stupid as ****. Like, what benefit does Apple even get for people to use Safari?

The same benefit they get for people using all their apps. The ecosystem lock-in.

Also it's literally the very last and only browser that's not just an ad-serving or personal data hoovering machine.

People need a browser so for better or worse I hope Apple never gives up on Safari. Chrome and Edge only exist to try to suck all of your digital data into their monetization engines and lock you into using their accounts.

Safari is the last browser (engine maker) where the user's interests and the browser maker's interests are even close to aligned.

Mozilla has lost their way and everything else is just a Chromium skin.

 

[cocky jeremy]

The same benefit they get for people using all their apps. The ecosystem lock-in.

Also it's literally the very last and only browser that's not just an ad-serving or personal data hoovering machine.

People need a browser so for better or worse I hope Apple never gives up on Safari. Chrome and Edge only exist to try to suck all of your digital data into their monetization engines and lock you into using their accounts.

Safari is the last browser (engine maker) where the user's interests and the browser maker's interests are even close to aligned.

Mozilla has lost their way and everything else is just a Chromium skin.

Exactly my point. So people are going to choose it anyway.

 

[CarAnalogy]

Exactly my point. So people are going to choose it anyway.

The browser ballot concept is definitely flawed. People who even understand that there is a choice have already made it, everyone else is just going to be confused.

 

[0049190]

It’s bad for everyone to have one company control 90% of the search engine market worldwide. Hopefully this move will encourage more users to switch from Google to someone else.

 

[senttoschool]

Stupid as ****. Like, what benefit does Apple even get for people to use Safari?

They get 30% of the revenue from Google search ads when the user uses Safari. $20 billion/year with 100% profit margin basically. That's around 13.5% of all of Apple's profit per year.

 

[wanha]

That's exactly the point, Apple has been profiting out of consumers who didn't even know they had an option.

imo the true harm is the network effects of power consolidating too much in the hands of only a few companies, which I think we can all acknowledge has been happening

The insane profits of Apple, Facebook, Meta, Alphabet, Microsoft, and Amazon illustrate this fact - control the platform and you control the money flows.

The browser is just another control point the EU is trying to take away. By itself, it is neither very important nor very interesting.

 

[H2SO4]

This browser choice screen literally looks like the most non-biased ranking of browsers ever.

It is not Apple’s job to advertise other browsers and provide extensive lists of benefits and ratings for these apps.

It is when the law in that market says it is.

 

[supremedesigner]

Just wanted to confirm that if User A sees the correct list, User B sees a randomly rearranged list, correct?

 

[SanderEvers]

It’s bad for everyone to have one company control 90% of the search engine market worldwide. Hopefully this move will encourage more users to switch from Google to someone else.

Yes, but who? Bing? That's Microsoft, who's even bigger. DuckDuckGo? Also basically just Bing again. There are no alternatives and these EU legislation doesn't make it viable for a company to actually make an alternative. Or a good alternative. Because then the EU will just slap the DMA on that as well. Basically EU says any of your R&D is ours now.

Instead of these stupid legislation (GDPR, DMA and DSA) the EU should incentivise Euorpean companies to make alternatives to external infrastructure, software and hardware. But they don't, instead they put fines on companies with the only fault that they want to protect their investments.

 

[Kiwamu]

Just wanted to confirm that if User A sees the correct list, User B sees a randomly rearranged list, correct?

AFAIK the ordering of the list is always different and random to make sure that not one service is prioritized in some way.

 

[0049190]

Exactly my point. So people are going to choose it anyway.

You don’t know that. If the alternatives to Google are highlighted during the set up process it’s just as likely that more people will choose an alternative. Only time will tell how effective this measure has been.

 

[H2SO4]

Yes, but who? Bing? That's Microsoft, who's even bigger. DuckDuckGo? Also basically just Bing again. There are no alternatives and these EU legislation doesn't make it viable for a company to actually make an alternative. Or a good alternative. Because then the EU will just slap the DMA on that as well. Basically EU says any of your R&D is ours now.

Instead of these stupid legislation (GDPR, DMA and DSA) the EU should incentivise Euorpean companies to make alternatives to external infrastructure, software and hardware. But they don't, instead they put fines on companies with the only fault that they want to protect their investments.

lol, They aren't stupid legislations, they're there ti ensure that consumers have recourse if and when companies, (let's be honest, they WILL), cross the line.

 

[0049190]

Yes, but who? Bing? That's Microsoft, who's even bigger. DuckDuckGo? Also basically just Bing again. There are no alternatives and these EU legislation doesn't make it viable for a company to actually make an alternative. Or a good alternative. Because then the EU will just slap the DMA on that as well. Basically EU says any of your R&D is ours now.

Instead of these stupid legislation (GDPR, DMA and DSA) the EU should incentivise Euorpean companies to make alternatives to external infrastructure, software and hardware. But they don't, instead they put fines on companies with the only fault that they want to protect their investments.

There are plenty of alternatives and this move might encourage new entrants.