Italy's antitrust regulator has initiated an inquiry into Apple Inc., Apple Distribution International Ltd and Apple Italia Srl concerning how the company's mobile operating systems interact with third-party consumer cloud services.
The probe centers on compliance with obligations set out in the Digital Markets Act (DMA). Specifically, the authority is investigating whether Apple provides third-party cloud providers with the free and effective interoperability necessary to use hardware and software features that the company controls through its iOS and iPadOS platforms.
In its announcement on Tuesday, the regulator said it has obtained indications suggesting that third-party consumer cloud services might not receive the same treatment afforded to Apple’s own iCloud offering. The statement did not set out further details on the evidence or the scope of potential infractions, nor did it specify a timeline for the investigation.
The entities named in the probe are Apple Inc.; Apple Distribution International Ltd, which handles distribution in various jurisdictions; and Apple Italia Srl, the company's Italian affiliate. The regulator's action seeks to determine whether platform-level controls over hardware and software features are being applied in a way that obstructs or disadvantages rival consumer cloud services.
What the inquiry covers
- Whether Apple meets DMA requirements to provide third parties with free and effective interoperability with features controlled via iOS and iPadOS.
- Whether third-party consumer cloud providers are being treated equally in comparison to Apple’s iCloud service.
- The investigation was made public in a formal statement by the Italian Competition Authority on Tuesday.
The regulator's announcement is concise and focused on specific DMA obligations and parity concerns for third-party cloud providers. It does not, at this stage, allege particular breaches beyond indicating that disparities in treatment appear to exist, nor does it provide an assessment of potential remedies or sanctions.
As the inquiry progresses, any findings will depend on the regulator’s assessment of technical interoperability, the application of platform controls by Apple, and the extent to which third-party services can effectively access required hardware and software features. The statement leaves open the investigative process and next steps, which will be determined by the authority based on the evidence it gathers.