Apple applications for applications may lead

Monitoring anti -monopoly in Germany has been investigating the privacy of the Apple application since then 2022. On Thursday, the preliminary results of this investigation were launched, Bundeskartellamt (FCO) said it suspected that the iPhone may not deal with third -party applications as the law requires.

The Anti -Monopathy Control Authority said it believed that Apple’s behavior can reach self -assignment. Apple has been banned from its special services and products in Germany since then April 2023When it became subject to the special abuse controls aimed at regulating the market strength of the Big Tech.

According to the broader digital market law in the pan (DMA), Apple also prohibits self -customization on iOS and a handful of other basic platform services such as the application store.

The issue of the privacy of the application that is now investigated is related to Apple’s Transparency framework tracking app (Attf), which allows iOS users to direct third -party applications not to track their use to target ads.

In the case, for FCO, it is the difference in how Apple deals with tracking permissions required by third parties for their tracking of iOS users.

(T) is strict requirements under Attf that applies only to third -party applications, not to Apple itself, “FCO wrote in A. press release. “In the initial opinion of Bundeskartellamt, this may be prohibited according to the provisions of special abuse of large digital companies (Article 19A (2) of the German Competition Law (GWB)) and under the provisions of general abuse in Article 102 TFEU (ON Treaty of the Performance of the European Union). “

“Apple applications conversations and third -party applications differ greatly.” “The current design, especially the drafting, for the Apple Application Dialogue, makes it likely to agree to the ATTF dialogue for third -party applications.”

FCO says three aspects of the framework raises competition concerns.

First, while Apple specifies a tracking “in a way that only covers data processing for advertising purposes across companies,” according to FCO, the same ATTF bases do not cover the Apple practice in combining user data through its ecological system – through which the Apple App Store, Apple and devices Related – and use it for advertising purposes.

Second, it highlights how third -party applications can show up to four consecutive approval conversations under Attf, while Apple applications appear maximum. The popups around the Apple applications also not indicate the “Apple processing of user data via services (known as the first party tracking) in this way”, in the FCO evaluation.

Finally, the International Energy Agency believes that the design of iOS approval conversations is unevenly dealt with. FCO says Apple dialogues are designed to encourage users to allow them to process their data, while those of third -party applications direct users towards their rejection.

Commenting in a statement, Andreas Mondand, FCO president, said, “Apple runs a comprehensive digital environmental system, which provides (…) extensively up to the user data related to advertising. Personal ads are of great commercial importance for other companies that want to provide free applications , Some of them compete with Apple services, in the application store.

Apple spokesman Tom Parker sent a message by e -mail a statement in which the company defended how it works: “The transparency of applications is allowed to users more control over their privacy through a required, clear and easy to understand mentor about one thing: track. Apple wrote:“ This claim corresponds to For all developers, including Apple, we have received strong support for this consumer feature, privacy advocates, and data protection authorities around the world. “

The company said: “We believe a firm belief that users must control when their data are shared, and with whom, they will continue to deal in a constructive manner with the Federal Cartel Office to ensure that users continue to obtain transparency and control their data.”

The giant technology company is now responding to FCO results.

The developers often complain that Apple has dual standards regarding their applications and services for third parties. The company is also treated for third parties under DMA audit: issued by the European Commission One of the initial breaches last summer On how to turn on Apple App Store.

It should be noted that Apple attracts FCO name, and seeks to turn the ability of the International Energy Agency to use private abuse authorities. The results of this appeal are awaiting the court’s decision scheduled for March 18, 2025.

At the same time, the forces apply to Apple, and FCO’s work is confirmed how Apple and A handful of others Dedic technology giants They deal with the main competition interventions on multiple fronts in Europe.