Technology

Italy launches antitrust investigation into Apple over cloud service interoperability

Tuesday 16 June 2026 - 07:30

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Italy’s competition authority has opened an investigation into Apple over concerns that the company may not be fully complying with interoperability requirements established under the European Union’s Digital Markets Act (DMA).

The inquiry focuses on Apple’s cloud services ecosystem, particularly whether competing cloud providers are being given the same level of access to iOS and iPadOS system components as Apple’s own iCloud service. Under the DMA, designated large technology platforms must ensure that third-party services can interoperate effectively and without discrimination.

According to the Italian regulator, preliminary evidence suggests that rival cloud providers may not have access to certain hardware and software functionalities available to Apple’s own service. The authority is examining whether this situation could place competitors at a disadvantage and limit consumer choice in the cloud services market.

The investigation is significant because it is the first case initiated by the Italian watchdog under the Digital Markets Act, a landmark EU regulation designed to curb the market power of major digital platforms and promote fair competition across the bloc.

The DMA imposes a range of obligations on so-called “gatekeeper” companies, including requirements related to interoperability, data portability, and equal treatment of competing services. Regulators across Europe have increasingly scrutinized how large technology firms integrate their products and services within their ecosystems.

Apple has consistently stated that it supports competition while emphasizing the importance of security and user privacy in the design of its platforms. The company has not yet publicly commented in detail on the Italian investigation.

The outcome of the probe could have broader implications for the technology industry, as it may help clarify how interoperability obligations under the Digital Markets Act should be applied to cloud services and other digital ecosystems. It also underscores the European Union’s growing determination to enforce its new competition framework and ensure that dominant technology companies operate on fair and transparent terms.