Serious Discussion Apple announce third-party App Store support with iOS 17.4 and Safari for EU users

[Ink]

Apple Newsroom Announcement

Apple announces changes to iOS, Safari, and the App Store in the European Union

Apple announced changes to iOS, Safari, and the App Store impacting developers’ apps in the EU to comply with the DMA.

www.apple.com

Apple today announced changes to iOS, Safari, and the App Store impacting developers’ apps in the European Union (EU) to comply with the Digital Markets Act (DMA). The changes include more than 600 new APIs, expanded app analytics, functionality for alternative browser engines, and options for processing app payments and distributing iOS apps. Across every change, Apple is introducing new safeguards that reduce — but don’t eliminate — new risks the DMA poses to EU users. With these steps, Apple will continue to deliver the best, most secure experience possible for EU users.

The new options for processing payments and downloading apps on iOS open new avenues for malware, fraud and scams, illicit and harmful content, and other privacy and security threats. That’s why Apple is introducing protections — including Notarization for iOS apps, an authorization for marketplace developers, and disclosures on alternative payments — to reduce risks and deliver the best, most secure experience possible for users in the EU. Even with these safeguards in place, many risks remain.

Developers can learn about these changes on the Apple Developer Support page and can begin testing new capabilities today in the iOS 17.4 beta. The new capabilities will become available to users in the 27 EU countries beginning in March 2024.

Inevitably, the new options for developers’ EU apps create new risks to Apple users and their devices. Apple can’t eliminate those risks, but within the DMA’s constraints, the company will take steps to reduce them. These safeguards will be in place when users download iOS 17.4 or later, beginning in March, and include:

• Notarization for iOS apps — a baseline review that applies to all apps, regardless of their distribution channel, focused on platform integrity and protecting users. Notarization involves a combination of automated checks and human review.

• App installation sheets — that use information from the Notarization process to provide at-a-glance descriptions of apps and their functionality before download, including the developer, screenshots, and other essential information.

• Authorization for marketplace developers — to ensure marketplace developers commit to ongoing requirements that help protect users and developers.

• Additional malware protections — that prevent iOS apps from launching if they’re found to contain malware after being installed to a user’s device.

These protections — including Notarization for iOS apps, and authorization for marketplace developers — help reduce some of the privacy and security risks to iOS users in the EU. That includes threats like malware or malicious code, and risks of installing apps that misrepresent their functionality or the responsible developer.
However, Apple has less ability to address other risks — including apps that contain scams, fraud, and abuse, or that expose users to illicit, objectionable, or harmful content. In addition, apps that use alternative browser engines — other than Apple’s WebKit — may negatively affect the user experience, including impacts to system performance and battery life.

Developer Update 1 - Update on apps distributed in the European Union - Support - Apple Developer
Developer Update 2 - Update on apps distributed in the European Union - Latest News - Apple Developer


News via Apple announces support for third-party iPhone app stores in the EU, coming with iOS 17.4 - 9to5Mac

 

[ZeroDay]

Will this be available in the UK as we're no longer a member of the EU?

 

[Andrew3000]

Will this be available in the UK as we're no longer a member of the EU?

It is an update where apple loses out, I don't think it will be available

 

[Ink]

Bad news for Apple's most neglected product.

Apple explains that the European Union ruled that iOS is a gatekeeper platform as part of the Digital Markets Act. This applies only to iOS on the iPhone. iPadOS on the iPad is a completely different platform in the eyes of Apple and the European Commission.

iPad users will miss out on third-party app stores, browser engines, and more - 9to5Mac

Yesterday, Apple announced some major changes to the App Store and the broader iPhone platform in the European Union, including...

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[Ink]

Apple is making these changes because it has to comply with the Digital Markets Act, and a new interview with Apple Fellow Phil Schiller makes it clear that Apple has major concerns about the changes.

Phil Schiller explains how third-party app stores will put iPhone users at risk - 9to5Mac

Last week, Apple made a variety of announcements about changes coming to the App Store and iPhone in the European...

9to5mac.com