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EU Designates iPadOS as 'Gatekeeper' Platform: Antitrust Implications for Apple

The European Commission said on Monday that EU antitrust regulators had designated Apple’s iPad operating system as a gatekeeper platform under the bloc’s most essential technology regulations because of its importance to consumer services.

Under the Digital Markets Act, which took effect this year, 22 companies owned by Apple, Alphabet, Google, Microsoft, Amazon, Meta Platforms, and TikTok owner ByteDance have already been named as gatekeepers for prospective takers so to their platforms.

EU officials' decision follows an investigation launched in September last year. Last year, Apple selected its operating system iOS, browser Safari, and App Store as gatekeepers.

“Our market research has shown that despite not crossing the border, iPadOS is an important gateway that many companies rely on to reach their customers,” EU antitrust chief Margrethe Vestager said in a statement.

The Commission found that Apple's representative utilization rate was eleven times higher than the average rate. In contrast, its end-user rate was close to the limit and anticipated to rise quickly. It said commerce clients and conclusion clients are bolted into iPadOS due to its vast ecosystem.

Apple, which has six months to comply with the DMA, said it would “constructively engage with the European Commission to comply with the DMA for all identified services.”

Companies can be fined up to 10% of their global annual turnover for violating the DMA.

Conclusion: The EU’s inclusion of iPadOS as a ‘gatekeeper’ platform is an essential milestone in the ongoing debate on digital competition and antitrust legislation. As regulatory scrutiny intensifies, tech companies like Apple face increasing pressure to rethink their operations and ensure consistency.