Apple’s recent decision to break iPhone web apps in the EU due to Digital Markets Act (DMA) compliance has raised questions about the company’s motives. Tim Sweeney, CEO of Epic Games, suggested on X that Apple’s decision may be driven by a desire to protect its revenue, rather than concerns over security. While Sweeney is biased due to his company’s ongoing legal battle with Apple, his comments have prompted speculation about Apple’s true intentions.
Apple has since provided an update on its website, explaining that the DMA requires it to support alternative web browser engines to comply with the regulation. This decision was made to prevent potential security risks that could arise from using third-party browser engines on iOS. As a result, iPhone web apps, also known as progressive web apps (PWAs), will no longer function as before in the EU, lacking support for local storage, badges, notifications, and dedicated windowing.
Although Sweeney’s remarks are biased, Apple’s own statements suggest that there may be truth to his claims. Apple admitted that there is a technical solution to the security issues associated with alternative browser engines, but the company chose not to implement it due to the demands of the DMA and the low user adoption of Home Screen web apps.
Furthermore, Apple’s previous efforts to enhance PWAs and the growing user adoption of web apps contradict the company’s assertion that users won’t mind the degradation of Home Screen web apps. Analysts even projected significant market growth for PWAs in the coming years.
Ultimately, there is speculation that Apple’s decision to end support for web apps in the EU may be an attempt to protect its App Store business from competition, as alternative browser engines could make PWAs more functional and threaten the dominance of native apps.
