Apple Inc. (NASDAQ:AAPL), Apple Distribution International Ltd and Apple Italia Srl are facing an investigation by Italy’s Competition Authority over the interoperability of the company’s iOS and iPadOS operating systems with third-party consumer cloud services.
Focus on Digital Markets Act Compliance
The regulator is examining whether Apple is meeting obligations under the Digital Markets Act (DMA), which requires designated gatekeepers to provide third-party providers with free and effective access to certain hardware and software functionalities controlled through iOS and iPadOS.
According to the authority, the investigation will assess whether competing cloud service providers are able to interact with Apple’s ecosystem on terms comparable to those available to the company’s own services.
Concerns Over Equal Access
The watchdog said it has identified indications that rival consumer cloud platforms may not be receiving treatment equivalent to that granted to Apple’s iCloud offering.
The probe will seek to determine whether any differences in interoperability could affect competition in the cloud services market and potentially disadvantage third-party providers.
Investigation Announced Tuesday
The opening of the investigation was disclosed in a statement issued by the Italian Competition Authority on Tuesday. The regulator has not yet outlined a timetable for the completion of its review.