EU Calls Off Fines for Apple's Browser Choice Compliance

Apple Avoids EU Fine Over Browser Choice

The European Union (EU) is reportedly set to announce that Apple will not be fined for failing to comply with an antitrust law related to the choice of iPhone web browsers. Initially, the maximum fine could have been as high as 10% of Apple’s global revenue.

Background on EU Antitrust Law and Apple's Response

• Initial Condition: The iPhone originally came with Safari as the default browser, which users could not change. Competing browsers like Chrome were available but would still open links in Safari by default.
• EU Ruling: The EU required Apple to make changes to enable fair competition among web browsers. In response, Apple allowed users to manually select a different default browser.
• EU Rejection: This was deemed insufficient as Safari remained the default for new users, giving it an unfair advantage.

Apple's Compliance Efforts

• January 2022 Announcement: Apple announced two significant changes to comply with EU regulations:
  • Default Browser Selection: New iPhone users in the EU would be prompted to choose a default browser during setup from a randomly ordered list, including Safari.
  • Use of Alternative Web Engines: Competing browsers would be allowed to use their own web engines, not just WebKit.

Current Status

• Investigation Closure: The changes made by Apple appear to have satisfied the EU. Reuters reports that the investigation is set to close next week without any fines or further action against Apple.
• Ongoing Investigations: Despite this victory, Apple remains under scrutiny for other antitrust issues, including limitations on developers linking to external payment methods.

Additional Information

• The article also mentions various iPhone accessories like chargers and cases, highlighting a 240W braided USB-C cable from Anker and an image by surasak_ch on Unsplash.