appleRefers toMeta has made 15 data-sharing requests to Apple in Europe, which will affect the privacy and security of Apple users. Meta, however, claims that Apple uses privacy as a shield, indicating that it is actually unwilling to share data with other companies.
According to the EU Digital Markets Directive, companies listed as "gatekeepers" must share data with other third-party services to maintain a balanced market competition. Otherwise, they will face fines of up to 10% of their annual global revenue. Apple has previously been identified as a "gatekeeper" by the EU and is therefore required to share data with third-party services.
Apple must evaluate feasible methods after receiving relevant applications to ensure that its platform data can be securely shared with third-party services.
However, Apple earlier stated that the 15 data access requests made by Meta are more than other third-party services, and some of them may involve deep data access, which may affect the privacy and security of Apple service users. For example, Meta may access Apple users' text messages and emails through services such as Facebook, Instagram, and WhatsApp, and even view their previous calls and receipts, or view their photos, documents, calendars and other private content, and may further record their service account passwords.
Apple also claimed that the Meta service had been fined in many EU countries for data leaks in Europe and for tracking user privacy across apps. Therefore, it believes that sharing data with Meta may bring greater risks of user privacy leaks.
Meta hit back, accusing Apple of often using user privacy as a shield and actually being unwilling to share data resources with others.
The EU has not yet intervened in the lawsuit between Apple and Meta, but it will obviously require Apple to share data with Meta to a certain extent based on the Digital Markets Act.
We sent preliminary findings to Apple under the Digital Markets Act.
Apple should open iOS features like notifications, AirPlay, and AirDrop to third-party devices, enhancing innovation and user choice.
It should also improve transparency and predictability for developers ↓
—European Commission (@EU_Commission) December 19, 2024
