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Apple Ads and Apple Maps not designated under EU Digital Markets Act

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The European Commission said on Thursday that Apple’s advertising and mapping services will not be designated as gatekeepers under the European Union’s Digital Markets Act, citing their relatively low usage and limited market impact across Europe.

In a statement, the Commission said it had concluded that Apple does not meet the criteria for gatekeeper status in relation to Apple Ads and Apple Maps. Regulators said neither service acts as an important gateway for business users seeking to reach end users in the European market.

“These platform services do not constitute an important gateway for business users to reach end users,” the Commission said, explaining that the DMA designation is reserved for services with significant scale, entrenched market positions and a strong ability to influence competition.

Apple welcomed the decision, saying its services face robust competition in Europe. “These services face significant competition in Europe, and we’re pleased the Commission recognized they do not meet the criteria for designation under the Digital Markets Act,” the company said in a statement.

The DMA is one of the world’s most far-reaching regulatory frameworks aimed at curbing the market power of major technology companies. It imposes strict obligations on so-called gatekeepers to prevent anti-competitive practices and to make it easier for users and businesses to switch between rival services, including social networks, web browsers and app stores.

Apple is already subject to DMA obligations for other parts of its ecosystem, including its App Store and mobile operating system. Thursday’s decision narrows the scope of additional regulatory requirements the company will face in Europe, at a time when Big Tech firms remain under intense scrutiny from EU competition authorities.

TikTok cooperates closely with EU probe into Romania election interference

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TikTok is being “extremely cooperative” with the European Commission’s investigation into potential interference in Romania’s 2024 presidential election, a Commission spokesperson said. The probe focuses on whether the platform failed to adequately limit election-related risks under EU digital rules.

European Commission spokesperson Thomas Regnier said TikTok had engaged constructively with regulators and had already implemented several measures. He added that the Commission welcomes cooperation from platforms and is open to dialogue when companies show willingness to comply.

The investigation was formally launched in December 2024, when the European Commission opened proceedings over concerns that TikTok may not have done enough to curb election interference during the Romanian vote. The case forms part of broader EU scrutiny of how social media platforms handle political content and safeguard democratic processes.

EU Plan to Phase Out High-Risk Tech Draws Fire From China’s Huawei

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The European Union plans to phase out components and equipment from so-called high-risk technology suppliers in critical sectors, under proposed revisions to the EU Cybersecurity Act that have drawn sharp criticism from Huawei.

The draft proposal, released by the European Commission, aims to strengthen protections against rising cyber and ransomware attacks, foreign interference and espionage risks, while reducing Europe’s dependence on non-EU technology providers. Although the Commission did not name specific companies or countries, Huawei is widely expected to be among those affected.

EU technology chief Henna Virkkunen said the measures would improve security of critical ICT supply chains and bolster Europe’s technological sovereignty. The new rules would apply to 18 key sectors, including telecom networks, cloud services, semiconductors, energy systems, medical devices, drones and connected vehicles.

Under the proposal, mobile operators would have 36 months after publication of a high-risk supplier list to phase out key components. Additional timelines for fixed and satellite networks will be set later. Any restrictions would follow formal risk assessments and market impact studies.

Huawei said excluding suppliers based on country of origin rather than technical evidence violates EU legal principles and World Trade Organization obligations, echoing criticism from China’s foreign ministry. Industry group Connect Europe warned the measures could impose billions of euros in extra costs. The proposal must still be negotiated with EU governments and the European Parliament before becoming law.