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Apple has reversed course on a plan to cut off access to applications that bypass its app store, which the iPhone maker had argued was necessary in order to comply with new EU regulations.
The European Commission, the EU’s executive arm, had been preparing a formal investigation into Apple’s move to disable so-called “progressive web apps” in the bloc.
The feature allows companies to create apps that can be accessed as a web page, with a button that appears on a mobile user’s home screen.
Apple on Friday announced it would not remove support for web apps in the EU after all.
“We have received requests to continue to offer support for home screen web apps in iOS, therefore we will continue to offer the existing home screen web apps capability in the EU,” the company said.
Apple had been expected to remove the functionality with an update to its operating system in the coming days. It has now changed course, and said “the EU can expect the return of the existing functionality for home screen web apps with the availability of iOS 17.4 in early March”.
The European Commission did not immediately respond to a request for comment.
The tech giant had previously said cutting off web apps was part of an effort to comply with the EU’s landmark Digital Markets Act, arguing browsers other than its own Safari software would expose users to security and privacy risks that were not permitted under the law.
The EU set a March 7 deadline for the company to makes changes to its business to comply with the new law.
Apple’s initial decision prompted backlash from web app developers. Non-profit group Open Web Advocacy organised an open letter to Apple chief executive Tim Cook urging him to reverse course, which by Friday had gathered almost 5,000 signatures.
Some EU lawmakers also took issue with Apple’s move. Three European parliament MEPs — Karen Melchior, Tiemo Wölken, and Patrick Breyer — said in a statement to the Financial Times that it would be “in flagrant violation of the spirit, and likely the word of the DMA”, and reminded the company of the EU’s power to enforce fines of up to 10 per cent of a company’s annual turnover under the new rules.
Web apps exhibit many of the same functions as a “native” app, such as offering push notifications for users that appear on their lock screen, and running on a full screen without a browser bar.
By working outside of Apple’s app store, the apps are also able to avoid the iPhone maker’s 30 per cent commission on digital purchases.
In a developer update in mid-February, Apple said allowing alternative browser engines — run by groups including Google, Microsoft and Mozilla — to offer web apps to comply with the DMA raised “complex security and privacy concerns”.
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