Skip to content
Epic v Apple and Google

'It will make iOS like Android': Senior Apple exec hits out at EU app laws

Apple's most senior software engineer has criticised European legislation in the most damning way possible: by saying it will make iPhones more like Androids.

Daniel Van Boom and Laurel Henning
Make us a preferred source
Whether Apple could or should open up its iPhone software to third-party app marketplaces was interrogated on Thursday during the Epic Games vs. Apple case. Marcio Jose Sanchez/Ap.

The most senior software engineer at Apple has criticised recently enacted European legislation in the most damning way possible: by saying it will make iPhones more like Androids.

Under re-examination during the Epic vs. Apple trial in Melbourne on Thursday, Apple Senior Vice President Craig Federighi said the EU's Digital Markets Act ultimately harms app developers, depriving users of the trust and confidence required to spend freely.

“When you compound these many factors, it will lead iOS to become like Android or other platforms which are much less trusted by users,” Federighi said, and “ultimately lead to bad results for developers because users will download less apps as they become less trustful.”

The Digital Markets Act came into effect in March and, among other things, pushes Apple to allow third-party app stores to operate on its iOS operating system in Europe.