Spotify CEO Daniel Ek is not very happy about Apple’s current compliance with the EU’s Digital Markets Act (DMA). In a new interview with Bloomberg, he criticizes Apple and calls on EU regulators to bring swift action against the company.
Ek says it’s time ‘to enforce the law’ against Apple
Samuel Stolton writes for Bloomberg:
Ek said that the iPhone maker’s attempts to step into line with the EU’s Digital Markets Act are a “farce.” Instead, he said Apple used a “well-established pattern of delaying and stalling” its compliance with the DMA, which sets strict guardrails on the behavior of the most powerful tech firms.
“It is time for Europe to show that we are going to enforce the law that’s already been passed,” Ek said in an interview with Bloomberg on Tuesday, adding that crackdowns on Apple’s conduct had also become a focus for regulators in the US.
The EU previously expressed deep dissatisfaction with Apple’s initial DMA compliance, and is expected to be considering whether further penalties are necessary.
Stolton writes: “EU competition chief Teresa Ribera has previously promised to rule on Apple’s compliance with the DMA by the end of March. The law gives her the power to levy fines of up to 10% of global annual revenue.”
Of course, the political landscape now looks a bit different than it did before. It’s unclear whether the EU will continue pursuing action against Apple now that the US President has signaled serious opposition to such moves.
In any case, Spotify and its CEO have long been proponents of increased regulatory pressures on Apple, so today’s lobbying of the EU comes as no surprise.
It’s very possible, though, that his renewed cries against Apple are due to concerns that the EU may decide to abandon any further action.
What do you think of Ek’s remarks? Do you expect Apple to face harsher penalties from the EU still? Let us know in the comments.
Best iPhone accessories
- AirPods Pro 2 (now only $199, down from $249)
- 10-year AirTag battery case 2-pack
- Anker 100W charging brick for fast charging
- MagSafe Car Mount for iPhone
- HomeKit smart plug 4-pack
FTC: We use income earning auto affiliate links. More.
Comments