Apple has hit back at the European Union over its latest investigation under the Digital Services Act (DSA). The EU suspects Apple of failing to protect users from scams and not doing enough to keep children safe online. Apple responded with a sharply worded letter, accusing the EU of hypocrisy and trying to distract from its own flawed laws.
The EU’s investigation focuses on whether Apple has taken “reasonable and effective measures” to prevent scams in the App Store and ensure children’s safety. Officials say Apple has not put in place strong enough protections for users or minors. Apple, however, argues that it already maintains one of the safest digital platforms in the world.
In its letter, reported by 9to5Mac, Apple’s Vice President of Legal, Kyle Andeer, said the EU’s approach undercuts the company’s efforts to protect users. He pointed out that the same European Commission enforcing the Digital Markets Act (DMA) has forced Apple to open the iPhone to third-party app stores. According to Apple, this requirement directly weakens its ability to prevent scams and protect minors.
Apple Says EU Laws Undermine Safety
Apple told regulators that allowing developers to link outside the App Store exposes users to risks on third-party websites and marketplaces that it cannot monitor. The company said this leaves iPhone users vulnerable to scams and harmful apps, including those targeting children. It also claimed the EU has blocked Apple from adding new parental safeguards that could have improved safety.
Andeer accused the European Commission of using this new inquiry as a “cynical attempt” to divert attention from the problems created by its own enforcement of the DMA. Apple said the Commission’s actions raise risks for users instead of reducing them.
Turning the Tables on Developers
Apple went further by pointing to developers such as Epic Games and Match Group, saying regulators ignored their misleading practices. The company argued that while U.S. authorities have acted against these developers, the EU has stayed silent. “The loser is the user,” Andeer wrote, adding that the Commission’s double standards hurt the very people it claims to protect.
While both sides continue their legal battles over how digital platforms should be regulated, Apple insists it has gone further than most tech companies to prevent fraud and protect children. The fight between Apple and the EU now centers not only on market freedom but also on who bears responsibility for keeping users safe.
