Europe forces Apple to allow users to delete the Photos app

Currently, the EU is pushing Apple to comply more with the Digital Markets Act (DMA), a regulation aimed at promoting an open application ecosystem, and fairer competition.

The DMA aims to regulate technology 'gatekeepers', which are large digital platforms that provide a vital gateway between business users and consumers. The EU's Digital Market Act is considered a nightmare for Apple.

Europe forces Apple to allow users to delete the Photos app Picture 1

In the latest move, the EU asked Apple to allow the Photos system application to be removed from the iPhone. According to a report by Daring Fireball's John Gruber, executive vice president of digital affairs and EU competition commissioner, Margrethe Vestager emphasized that Apple should allow users to uninstall any app, including system-level apps like Photos.

This request sparked heated debate, because Photos is a system application that has been deeply integrated into the iOS operating system platform. It also interacts with iCloud for storage and sharing.

Margrethe Vestager believes that Apple should allow third-party photo applications to act as system image libraries instead of Photos on the iPhone. However, experts like Daring Fireball's John Gruber point out the complexity of such a change, as it would likely require a significant iOS overhaul if the regulation passes.

While Margrethe Vestager's comments specifically mention the Photos app, it's unclear whether the EU will strictly enforce this. Some say the ability to uninstall the Photos app might be more trouble than it's worth, as it could potentially lead to accidental data loss.

The conflict between the EU and Apple over compliance with the DMA Act is likely to continue to grow. While the EU is keen to promote a more open ecosystem, there are still concerns about its potential impact on user experience and data security.

Samuel Daniel

Update 04 April 2024