EU Investigates Apple Over Photos App, Cites Non-Compliance with Digital Markets Act

The European Commission examines Apple's inability to allow iPhone users to uninstall the default Photos app, potentially leading to significant fines.

The European Commission (EC) is investigating Apple for non-compliance with the EU's Digital Markets Act, focusing on the inability to uninstall the iPhone's Photos app.
Margrethe Vestager, the EU’s European Commissioner for Competition, emphasized the importance of allowing users to uninstall default apps to foster competition.
Apple's Photos app is deeply integrated into iOS, making it challenging to allow for its uninstallation without significant changes to the operating system.
Critics argue that forcing Apple to make the Photos app uninstallable could compromise user privacy and security, as well as the functionality of the iOS ecosystem.
If found non-compliant, Apple could face fines up to 20% of its total worldwide revenue, with the EC aiming to conclude the investigation within 12 months.