Apple Might Drop AirDrop in EU Over New DMA Rules

Apple’s ongoing tussle with the European Commission (EC) over the Digital Markets Act (DMA) is heating up – and the consequences could hit users in the EU hard.

In April, the EC fined Apple a staggering €500 million for allegedly breaching DMA rules. Apple immediately appealed, but its official response suggests it may take drastic action that could change the Apple experience for millions of European users.

The crux of the issue lies in the EU’s demand for greater interoperability. Apple argues that these requirements risk dismantling the tightly woven ecosystem it has spent decades building. According to the company, these rules force Apple to hand over user data and system access to third-party competitors, raising serious privacy and security concerns.

In an official statement, Apple claimed, “These deeply flawed rules that only target Apple – and no other company – will severely limit our ability to deliver innovative products and features to Europe.” While Apple insists it’s defending European users’ privacy, critics note that these statements come off as both protective and self-serving.

One of the most controversial potential outcomes? Apple might drop or limit features like AirDrop in the EU altogether. The move would be framed as protecting privacy – after all, sharing deep system-level access could undermine Apple’s security architecture. But it would also mean removing a core feature that many users rely on.

Even more dramatically, there’s speculation Apple could pull devices like the Apple Watch or AirPods from the EU market. While this seems unlikely given how much revenue wearables bring in, the mere possibility has stirred anxiety among fans and fuelled debates about whether Apple is safeguarding user experience – or just resisting fair competition.

The EU’s DMA isn’t aimed solely at Apple. Other tech giants like Google must also comply. But Apple, with its famously closed ecosystem, stands to lose the most – or change the most. Meanwhile, some argue that the law finally levels the playing field, giving users more freedom and forcing Apple to evolve.

In the end, Apple’s legal battle with the EU isn’t just about fines or regulations. It’s about defining the future of tech in Europe – will it be more open, more private, or somewhere in between?