Europe’s sweeping rules for tech giants are about to kick in. Here’s how they work

I’ve been following this from the perspective of iOS and iPhones. In effect this will enable one to:

• Install any software without prejudice or gates. Apple cannot, for example, require developers to register with Apple, or pay them a fee.
• Install any app store and choose to make it default.
• Use third party payment providers and choose to make them default.
• Use any voice assistant and choose to make it default.
• User any browser and browser engine and choose to make it default.
• Use any messaging app and choose to make it default.
• Make core messaging functionality interoperable. They lay out concrete examples like file transfer.
• Use existing hardware and software features without competitive prejudice. E.g. NFC.
• Not preference their services. This includes CTAs in settings to encourage users to subscribe to Gatekeeper services, and ranking their own services above others in selection and advertising portals.
• Much, much, more.

It’s one of the most impressive, most expansive pieces of technology focused legislation in my lifetime. They’ve really done a great job of covering all bases.

I expect these to be available next month when the latest version of iOS drops. The deadline is in February/March. If they don’t get this out the door soon, they risk 20% of global revenue as a fine. It would be foolish to wait until the deadline as any issues with deployment would risk the fine, and the EU is eager make an example.