Italy’s competition authority launched an investigation on Tuesday into the US tech giant Apple over potential violations of its interoperability obligations under the bloc’s Digital Markets Act (DMA).

Under the DMA, which came into force in March 2024, Apple is designated as a gatekeeper, and rules apply to its operating systems, including iOS and iPadOS, which are classified as “core platform services.” The bloc’s rules require Apple to open its operating systems and grant third parties free access to the hardware and software features it controls.

The Italian authority (AGCM) said in a press statement that it has opened the probe over concerns that Apple’s iOS and iPadOS do not provide free and interoperable access to third-party consumer cloud providers in the same manner as Apple’s own iCloud services. Apple’s iCloud operates as a consumer cloud storage and a synchronisation service built directly into its operating systems.

In opening the investigation, the AGCM said it suspects that the iPhone maker does not place other cloud storage providers on the same footing as iCloud. It said, for instance, that Apple does not allow third-party consumer cloud providers to use iOS and iPadOS with features that enable end users to fully back up their devices’ data, functionality available in Apple’s iCloud.

The tech giant has consistently criticised the DMA and delayed product rollouts in European markets. Last week, Apple blamed the DMA for delaying a rollout of Siri AI, its newly AI-powered virtual assistant, because of the interoperability conditions imposed by the EU’s Big Tech rulebook.

The AGCM added that while the European Commission is the sole enforcer of the DMA, its investigation will support the Commission’s preliminary probes under its Big Tech rulebook.

It is using its powers for the first time under the DMA, which allows national regulators to conduct preliminary investigations.

(cm)