Apple is pushing for a change in Europe’s stance.
After a few years of development, Apple has finally made its AI feel relevant. However, millions of iPhone users in Europe are now facing the news that Siri AI won’t be available to them anytime soon, if at all, and Apple is pointing fingers at the EU for the delay.
According to Apple, the new AI-enhanced Siri won’t be rolling out on iPhones and iPads in the European Union due to the Digital Markets Act (DMA). This legislation aims to prevent major tech companies from monopolizing their platforms and shutting out competitors. Essentially, the DMA mandates that platforms must provide rivals with similar data access that they themselves have, with some exceptions for security purposes.
This requirement for interoperability means that companies like OpenAI, Google, and Anthropic, along with any potential competitors to Siri, would need access to Apple’s systems. Given that Siri is designed to interact with various apps, personal data, photos, messages, and videos to perform tasks for users, that’s a significant amount of access.
Apple argues that granting such access to external companies poses a risk to user privacy and security. The company has stated it would prefer to withhold Siri AI from Europe rather than comply with the EU’s conditions. Apple has suggested alternatives, like a Trusted System Agent that would serve as a middleman between rival AI systems and Apple’s infrastructure, providing similar access levels. However, Apple claims the European Commission rejected this proposal and others, leaving no timeline for Siri AI’s launch in the EU.
On the other hand, the European Commission maintains that nothing in the DMA prevents Apple from launching new features. A spokesperson emphasized that the DMA does not prohibit Apple from introducing new products and services in the EU, noting that the Commission has been in regular discussions with Apple but that the company has not put forth compliant interoperability solutions.
This situation has led to a standoff. Apple insists that adhering to the EU’s regulations would jeopardize customer privacy to an unacceptable degree, while the Commission argues that Apple is leveraging its power to hinder competition and limit consumer options. The spokesperson remarked that it’s not up to Apple to dictate who can innovate or which AI tools are available to EU citizens.
Apple seems to be banking on public opinion to sway in its favor. The company even dedicated part of its WWDC 2026 keynote to explain why Siri AI won’t be available in Europe and published a blog post titled “Due to DMA, Siri AI delayed in EU for iOS 27 and iPadOS 27.” Additionally, it has been holding media briefings focused on this European issue. Notably, China will also miss out on Siri AI due to similar regulatory hurdles, mentioned briefly in a footnote.
This tactic is not new for Apple. The company has a history of citing privacy and security concerns when regulators push for more openness in its tightly controlled ecosystem. It has previously blamed the DMA’s interoperability requirements for delaying features like AirPods live translation and iPhone mirroring in the EU, as well as certain Maps functionalities. While these concerns are often valid, they also serve as effective arguments for Apple to maintain control over its extensive technological empire.
Experts like Friso Bostoen, a professor of competition law and digital regulation, acknowledge the genuine security and privacy risks associated with forcing platforms to open their systems. However, he notes that Apple’s arguments don’t always withstand scrutiny, referencing recent court cases in the UK and US where judges expressed skepticism about the company’s claims.
Jan Penfrat, a senior policy adviser for a network advocating for digital rights in Europe, views Apple’s actions as a lobbying strategy aimed at pressuring the EU Commission to allow it to bypass the DMA. He argues that the real issue lies not with the DMA but with Apple’s reluctance to open its competition-stifling software ecosystem.
Michael Veale, a professor of technology law and policy, points out that Apple is making exceptions to its established privacy and security framework to remain competitive in the AI space. He describes Apple’s privacy model as precarious, built on strict control, which could falter with increased interoperability. In essence, Apple is willing to modify its practices for Siri AI, allowing it access to extensive data across various apps, yet claims that similar access for competitors is too risky.
Both Veale and Penfrat argue that it’s impossible to evaluate Apple’s proposed solution since the company has not disclosed it publicly. Other experts, like Bostoen, question why Apple needs as long as 18 months to implement it, given that the interoperability requirements were foreseeable and should have been addressed alongside Siri AI’s development.
In the end, Apple is engaged in a high-stakes game with Europe. The EU represents a significant market, and Apple has strong incentives to eventually bring Siri AI there, especially as it becomes a more integral part of the iPhone experience. The company managed to adapt to EU regulations regarding USB-C chargers; will it be able to navigate the AI landscape similarly, or will the EU be the one to make concessions?
