Apparently it reduces security and limits options?
The EU’s Digital Markets Act comes into effect tomorrow, and those gatekeeping companies to which it will apply will be sending a message of doom to everyone and their dogs today. Companies like Alphabet, Amazon, Apple, ByteDance, Meta, and Microsoft are voicing various concerns at this late date, though you have to decide whether they’re valid or whether they’re complaining because their respective monopolies are threatened.
Google is removing Google Flights entirely and changing its search algorithm in 20 unspecified ways that they claim will reduce the number of direct clicks instead of seeing intermediate websites appear when searching for things like hotels or specific brand products. One might point out that this is already happening, but the results point to aggregators owned or favored by Google. Of course, they can provide malicious compliance and ensure that the best results they provide are of poor quality, but this may cause users to switch to other search engines. Alphabet has also been forced to add options for default apps and settings on Android, including letting third-party app stores promote discounted products on the Google Play Store.
Apple reacted similarly, suggesting that allowing iPhone users to choose which wireless payment system to use and allowing apps to be installed from outside the Apple Store would lead to a malware disaster. Of course, they didn’t mention what these extremely unsafe app stores might be. Apple also wants users to know that these new apps allowed under the Digital Markets Act will not be fully integrated with features like Family Purchase Sharing and other benefits they provide for staying in the Apple ecosystem. Ironically, they also suggested that these apps from outside the Apple Store could have a negative impact on battery life, even though they could be facing $2 billion for what they accuse outside apps of potentially doing to your phone. fine.
Microsoft believes that canceling the LinkedIn link will reduce the user experience. Meta said that opting out of Messenger, games and Marketplace will ensure that users miss out on special experiences and offers, while TikTok directly denied any gatekeeping activities. Ars Technica has published a more thorough look at the dire impact the Digital Markets Act will have here.
But remember, all the DMA does is force these companies to offer choice, and if you want the pure Apple iPhone experience, you can still get it by choosing everything currently enforced everywhere.