I have been for a long time iPhone user who was quite critical towards the European Union’s Digital Markets Regulation (DMA) since it came into force last year. I did this as someone directly affected by the changes the EU is imposing. Apple.

Although the DMA should promote competition and have the customer’s best interest at heart, it is actually doing me a disservice. Apple is delaying some software features in Europe.

I can’t use Apple Intelligence on my iPhone and the iPhone Mirroring Feature is not available in Yosemite on Mac. This hadn’t happened before. Apple is reportedly rolling out the same software updates in Europe as it is in the United States and other markets.

This excessive regulation has also had an impact on other products, particularly on the AI ​​side. For example, I only had access to ChatGPT advanced voice mode a few weeks ago, well after the US launch.

But on Tuesday, Brussels announced a new problem with Apple. This time around, it’s a move that makes sense for the EU blockade, as lawmakers are calling on Apple to end geo-blocking practices on its digital stores.

Geo-blocking essentially allows Apple to provide specific content for a specific country. However, this is not entirely up to Apple, as app developers can also choose where to make their content available. The same could apply to other types of content.

I’ve encountered the problem at least several times over the years. I was unable to download a specific app on the iPhone because it was not available across the EU. Instead, it only served a specific market. The EU wants Apple to end geo-blocking practices “on certain Apple media services, namely the App Store, Apple Arcade, music, iTunes Store, books and podcasts”.

The EU declared in a press release that the Consumer Protection Cooperation Network (CPC) has identified “limitations” on Apple Media services that “unlawfully discriminate against European consumers based on their location.”

Here are the limits highlighted by the CPC network:

Online access: Apple Media Services has a different interface in different EU/EEA countries. In the app version of these services, consumers are only allowed to access the interface designed for the country in which they registered their Apple account and face significant challenges when trying to modify this interface, which which is not permitted by EU anti-geoblocking rules.

Payment Methods: When making paid purchases on Apple Media Services, consumers are only allowed to use payment methods (such as a credit/debit card) issued in the country where they registered their Apple account.

Download: Since the App Store does not allow consumers to access another EU/EEA country’s version, consumers are not permitted to download applications offered in other countries. Consumers should be able to download applications offered in other EU/EEA countries when traveling or temporarily staying in that country.

I’ve already explained the app download issue, and it’s something Apple should easily fix, provided developers are involved.

I don’t care as much about the UI of an Apple Marketplace in different markets. I also don’t care about using payment methods issued in a country other than my country of residence, where I registered my Apple account.

However, as a frequent traveler to the EU, I can understand the impact these issues could have on people who temporarily live and work in another EU country. The alternative is to create a different Apple ID, which is hardly practical.

Following this investigation, Apple has one month to respond to the CPC network and propose ways to remedy geoblocking practices. It’s unclear what will happen if Apple doesn’t comply, but the press release warns that state authorities “may take enforcement action to ensure compliance.”

The Geo-Blocking Regulation was adopted in 2018 to ensure better conditions of access to goods and services in the EU/EEA. This involves all sorts of products, not just the digital downloads available on iPhone and Android.

The announcement also states that the CPC network has targeted Google’s Android with a similar action in 2023. Google has apparently made the appropriate changes:

Google has committed to clarifying how to browse different country versions of the Google Play Store and informing developers of their obligations under the Geo-Blocking Regulation in order to make their apps accessible across the EU, as well as to allow consumers to use payment methods from any EU country. on Google Store.

This suggests that Apple could take a similar approach in the near future. Whatever Apple does here, it will have no impact on other international jurisdictions or Apple’s ongoing disputes regarding the DMA. However, complying with the geo-blocking regulation could allow Apple to gain more goodwill with EU regulators.