The European Commission has designated Apple’s iPadOS operating system as a “gatekeeper” under the Digital Markets Act (DMA), expanding the Commission’s earlier classification of Apple’s iOS, Safari browser, and App Store as gatekeepers. This decision is the first time the Commission has used qualitative criteria, such as a system’s role in facilitating interactions between businesses and consumers, to define a gatekeeper, rather than relying solely on quantitative user base thresholds.

The Commission’s targeted market investigation found that iPadOS plays a significant role in business-to-consumer interactions, with many business users and a growing end-user base. The “lock-in” effect within the iPadOS ecosystem was seen as potentially restricting competition and limiting consumer choice. As a result, Apple must comply with DMA regulations for iPadOS within six months. This proactive decision reflects the Commission’s commitment to promoting fair competition in the digital marketplace and protecting consumer rights, signaling potential further designations of other dominant digital platforms under the DMA’s qualitative criteria.

The press release is available here.