Apple Challenges EU 'Gatekeeper' Status for Maps and Ads

The European Commission considers Apple's Ads and Maps as potential 'gatekeepers' under the Digital Markets Act, a claim the tech giant disputes. If designated, Apple must comply with strict rules within six months. Apple argues its services have minimal market share compared to rivals.

The European Commission has announced that Apple's Apple Ads and Apple Maps potentially meet the criteria to be labeled as 'gatekeepers' according to the Digital Markets Act. This designation, however, is being contested by the American technology company.

The 'gatekeeper' status requires companies to follow stringent regulations on content moderation, ensure fair competition, and facilitate easier consumer transitions between services. The DMA categorizes companies with over 45 million monthly users and a 75 billion euro market capitalization as gatekeepers, offering essential platform services to business users.

The EU Commission revealed that according to Apple's notifications, the platforms have met the criteria for this classification. It now has 45 working days to finalize Apple's designation, which, if confirmed, will require compliance within six months. Apple's response emphasized its minimal market presence in online advertising and limited usage in mapping services across the EU.

(With inputs from agencies.)