With the EU Digital Markets Act (DMA) officially taking effect, Apple has been forced to allow third-party software market services to operate on iOS devices. However, it has recently been embroiled in controversy over whether it has violated the DMA by revoking the download rights of a torrent download application service on third-party software markets.
according toTorrentFreak websiteAccording to reports, iTorrent application service developer Daniil "XITRIX" Vinogradov said that Apple directly revoked its App download and distribution rights on the third-party software market AltStore PAL without prior notice, resulting in the BitTorrent client software service, which is quite popular in Europe, being unable to continue to be downloaded.
Daniil "XITRIX" Vinogradov emphasized that he did not receive any specific reasons or warnings at all, only an official message with "general instructions", and his app's download and distribution rights in third-party software markets were immediately revoked.
Shane Gill, co-founder of AltStore PAL, added that his team has formally inquired with Apple and shared their concerns, but has only received a "current investigation" response without further details. This has led to concerns about whether Apple is still using technical or censorship measures to restrict users from accessing certain types of app services on third-party platforms.
In fact, Apple has long strictly banned torrent-related apps from the App Store in the United States and other markets, primarily due to copyright disputes and illegal downloading. However, with new EU regulations requiring "platform gatekeepers" to allow third-party software marketplaces to list and provide the same platform services, whether Apple can still unilaterally block specific apps has become a sensitive issue. If Apple cannot provide specific justification, it is expected to be accused of violating relevant provisions of the Digital Markets Act.
On the other hand, this incident also highlights the "paradox" Apple faces in its platform openness policy. Apple is forced to comply with EU regulations and allow third-party software markets on iOS devices, while at the same time, Apple wants to maintain strict control over its own ecosystem to prevent the iOS platform from becoming a hotbed for malware and copyright disputes.
How to strike a balance between "openness required by regulations" and "the security of its own standards" will become a major challenge for Apple in the European market.
For users, the recent iTorrent removal is likely just the tip of the iceberg. As more similar controversies emerge, whether EU regulators will take further action, or even impose penalties on Apple, will determine the extent of iOS's openness in Europe. Consequently, the relationship between Apple and third-party developers has once again become a focus of intense industry attention.
