In a significant development, the European Commission is contemplating an investigation into Apple’s decision to restrict the functionality of Home Screen web apps within the EU, as reported by the Financial Times.
This move came to light following the release of iOS 17.4’s second beta version, revealing that Apple had altered how web apps operate on its platform. Specifically, web apps are no longer able to launch from the Home Screen in a dedicated, full-screen window, and are now reduced to mere shortcuts that direct users to open them in Safari. This change has sparked criticism, suggesting that it undermines the efficacy of web apps as a competitive alternative to the native applications on iOS.
The scrutiny from EU competition regulators is part of a broader assessment to understand the impact of this change. Last week, they distributed inquiries to developers, signaling the preliminary steps towards a potential in-depth investigation. The European Commission has acknowledged its focus on the compliance of all gatekeepers, including Apple, with particular attention on the issue of progressive web apps. The inquiries aim to gather relevant information from Apple and app developers to aid the Commission’s evaluation.
Apple has defended its decision, stating the adjustments were necessary to align with the EU’s Digital Markets Act (DMA). The company argues that allowing third-party browsers to run web apps could pose security and privacy risks that are not in compliance with the DMA, and insists that the changes will affect only a minimal number of users.
The potential investigation into Apple’s web app policy might follow the March 6 deadline for compliance with the DMA. However, the initiation of formal proceedings could be avoided if Apple opts to make additional concessions in response to the regulatory concerns.
