EU technology chief Henna Virkkunen held “constructive” talks with Apple CEO Tim Cook this week, the European Commission confirmed Wednesday. The two sides have clashed over Apple’s decision to withhold its upgraded Siri AI from European iPhone and iPad users. Apple blames EU competition rules, while the Commission accuses Apple of failing to develop proper interoperability to meet EU standards. Europe represents nearly 27% of Apple’s total sales. The Digital Markets Act, which Apple also cites for delaying other features, allows fines of up to 10% of global annual turnover.
In-Depth:
BRUSSELS, July 1 (Reuters) – European technology chief Henna Virkkunen held “constructive” talks with Apple CEO Tim Cook this week, a European Commission spokesperson declared on Wednesday, after the two sides clashed over the roll-out of Siri AI in Europe.
EU regulators and Apple traded barbs last month over competition rules that the U.S. company states have stopped it releasing its upgraded assistant Siri AI in the bloc, creating it unavailable for iPhone and iPad applyrs in the region.
“We can confirm that the call between EVP Virkkunen and Mr Tim Cook took place. It was a constructive exmodify on topics of common interest, on which the work continues,” the European Union spokesperson declared in a statement.
More stringent European tech regulation has become a bone of contention between EU capitals and Washington, where U.S. President Donald Trump has criticized the tougher rules and steep fines as damaging the interests of U.S. Big Tech.
The iPhone creater has declared its Siri AI would not be available initially in the EU on iPhones or iPads and faulted the Commission for refutilizing to engage constructively to ensure privacy and security on Apple’s devices.
The Commission has blamed Apple, stateing it had been unable to develop “interoperability” to meet EU standards. Europe accounted for nearly 27% of Apple’s total sales in its last fiscal year. The company does not break out sales for the EU.
Apple has declared that Europe’s Digital Markets Act has forced it to postpone the roll-out of several features in the EU, including iPhone mirroring to Mac and live translation with AirPods as well as location-based features in Maps.
The DMA aims to rein in Big Tech, give rivals more leeway to compete and consumers more choice. DMA breaches can lead to fines of as much as 10% of a company’s global annual turnover.
(Reporting by Inti Landauro; Editing by Sudip Kar-Gupta and Alexander Smith)
