The EU may force Apple to allow the removal of the Photos app

The European Union has just caused confusion among Apple managers, employees and fans. Author Daring FireballJohn Gruber has published a series of comments from EU competition chief Margrethe Vestager that They took control of the Photos app on iPhone.

According to Vestager, Apple still does not comply with the DMA on some of the established points. The new controversy is based on Article 6, Section 3, which states: this means simply removing and replacing default applications in operating systems.

“Apple’s compliance model does not appear to meet the intent of this commitment,” the company said. Margret commented.

He also made one last sentence: “Apple also failed to guarantee that multiple apps (photos would be one) could not be uninstalled.”

The ability to delete Photos will mean a huge change in iOS.

As Gruber notes on his blog, The ability to remove the Photos app from the iPhone would mean a complete restructuring of iOS. as we know it. The app is not only a gallery, it is also the device’s camera roll, it is integrated with all image-related resolutions and is somehow integrated with many parts of the system.

Apple knows that images are an important part of your personal information and is committed to maintaining privacy and security at the highest levels. Give fair permits and from time to time remember which apps have access to photos so that the user can have absolute control.

Replacing photos with other third-party apps is synonymous with delegating all those permissions to other companies.in addition, of course, to the massive changes that would be required in the iOS code.

For now this is just a comment

Fortunately for everyone, The EU doesn’t demand anything. The question arose after some comments indicating Possible absence of Apple in DMA, but without additional information. At least for now.

EU commitment in this regard This will mean a headache for Apple engineers and a massive overall restructuring for users.. Photos integrated into the system should significantly change the way they are used and, above all, understood.

It’s not good news for Apple that a senior EU competition official thinks so. Comments can escalate and end up becoming problematic to discuss. on European territory.

What might Apple face?

In the hypothetical case if the EU continues to pursue this issue, there is several decisions Apple can make:

• Make the necessary changes: The company may decide to restructure iOS so that the Photos app can be replaced. The changes will be huge, and the use of the system will likely have to change worldwide. It’s unlikely that Apple will distribute one version of iOS in Europe and another in the rest of the world.
• Do nothing and pay: Another option is to go through the ring of fines imposed by the EU. If found guilty, the company could face up to 10% of its global turnover. Yes, you read that right: global. Considering their market share in Europe is 7%, again this is unlikely to happen.
• Withdrawal from the European market: Stopping iPhone sales in Europe would kill potential demand. Of course, no one, not even the EU, wants this, so in the event of a lawsuit, negotiations would likely rule out such a situation.

Now everything is in hands of the EU and its leaderswho have the opportunity to close their eyes or completely focus on the issue of Photos and third-party applications.