A Reuters report indicates that Apple will not face fines under the EU’s Digital Markets Act (DMA) regarding default browser options on iOS and iPadOS. An investigation that began a year ago is set to conclude on March 31, with sources suggesting no penalties for Apple. The company complied with DMA regulations by providing a list of popular third-party browsers for new users in Europe with iOS 17.4/iPadOS 18.2, addressing concerns about its preference for Safari. Apple’s updated browser choice screen now offers more options and displays them in random order, preventing Safari from being prioritized.
A recent report from Reuters indicates that Apple is unlikely to face fines under the European Union’s Digital Markets Act (DMA) regarding its default browser choices on iOS and iPadOS. The investigation, which began a year ago, is expected to conclude on March 31, and according to “sources familiar with the situation,” Apple may avoid any potential penalties.
Apple has adhered to the DMA’s regulations by providing a selection of popular third-party browsers for new Safari users in Europe on iOS 17.4/iPadOS 18.2 or later. The initial screen for browser selection had favored Safari over other browsers, which drew the EU’s scrutiny and raised concerns about Apple’s practices.
Apple’s current browser choice screen on iOS
In response, Apple revamped its browser selection screen to feature a broader array of options and importantly, the browsers are now presented in a randomized order rather than placing Safari at the top. If a user picks an alternative default browser, it will be downloaded and positioned on the same page or in the dock where Safari was previously found.
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