In the last few years, the European Union (EU) has forced Apple to do a lot of things, including coercing it to shift from the Lighting port to the USB Type-C port for iPhones and modifying iOS to allow people to install apps from anywhere, including websites. While Apple resisted making those changes, it ultimately complied with the rules. Now, the EU has proposed Apple make another change and it looks like the Cupertino-based tech giant will fight tooth and nail to avoid making this change, as Apple claims that it opens users’ privacy to other companies.
The EU has asked Apple to open AirDrop and AirPlay to other platforms. AirDrop is a feature that allows people to send files to other Apple devices nearby, whereas, AirPlay allows people to show content on their devices on the displays of other devices, such as TVs, nearby. If the iPhone maker opens these features to other platforms, devices using other operating systems, such as Samsung’s Galaxy phones and tablets, and Windows laptops, will be able to send files to Apple devices, including iPhones and MacBooks, wirelessly or show content on the displays of these devices over the local network (Wi-Fi and Wi-Fi Direct).
While that will be very convenient for Apple users as well as others, the Cupertino-based tech giant claims that opening these features to other platforms will expose data of Apple users, such as their call logs, messages, calendar events, photos and videos, and even their passwords to others. The iPhone maker claims that if that happens, it will be catastrophic, as companies like Meta, which have a track record of violating users’ privacy will misuse that data, which will ruin Apple's image of maintaining users' privacy, and the brand doesn't want that to happen.
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So, expect Apple to fight hard with the European Union about this change. Fortunately, the EU has said that it will adjust these changes based on feedback from Apple and third parties. It will be interesting to see how hard Apple fights and what eventually happens.
