Apple has formally warned the European Commission that proposed measures to force Google to open Android to rival AI services pose “profound risks” to user privacy, security, and device integrity, aligning with Google’s own objections in a deepening regulatory clash over the Digital Markets Act (DMA).
EU Targets Android AI Access
Last month, the European Commission outlined draft measures intended to allow competing AI assistants to execute tasks—such as sending emails or placing orders—directly through Android’s core functionality. The goal is to prevent Google from leveraging its dominant position to stifle emerging AI competitors.
In its formal submission, Apple argued the draft measures would compel Google to redesign its operating system with insufficient technical scrutiny. The company stated the Commission is “substituting judgments made by Google’s engineers for its own judgment based on less than three months of work,” warning that the only value discerned appears to be “open and unfettered access.”
Privacy and Security at Stake
Apple highlighted the unpredictable nature of rapidly evolving AI systems, noting their “capabilities, behaviours, and threat vectors remain unpredictable as we are now seeing time and again.” The company stressed that granting third-party AI tools deep access to hardware permissions and user data could undermine device performance and safety.
While the immediate measures target Android, Apple has a direct stake in the outcome. The iPhone maker is already subject to EU demands to open its tightly controlled iOS ecosystem, and sees this case as a precedent for how regulators may mandate third-party AI access across platforms.
Broader Implications for AI Regulation
This dispute underscores a central tension in AI governance: how to promote competition without dismantling the security safeguards that protect users in an era of sophisticated AI agents. Apple and Google are aligned in arguing that heavy-handed intervention risks creating more problems than it solves.
The outcome of this consultation will likely shape how AI assistants operate on billions of devices worldwide. As the EU continues its aggressive push under the DMA, expect further pushback from U.S. tech giants—and a protracted battle over the balance between market openness and platform security.
— Originally reported by MacDailyNews. Adapted and republished with editorial context for MacThreat.
