The European Commission, on the 9th, criticized Apple for attributing the delayed launch of its AI-upgraded Siri voice assistant in the European Union to the bloc's Digital Markets Act, stating it was a unilateral decision by the company and unrelated to EU laws and regulations.

Apple unveiled the new AI-powered Siri during its Worldwide Developers Conference on the 8th, but users in the EU will not have access to this feature on iPhones or iPads for now. The company stated it made this decision because it cannot comply with the DMA's requirement for tech firms to grant equal access to rivals, arguing this could allow AI virtual assistants developed by other companies to "directly read" vast amounts of Apple user data without "necessary safeguards," posing a serious risk to user privacy.

Thomas Renier, a European Commission spokesperson for digital economy matters, countered Apple's explanation. He asserted that the non-availability of Siri AI in the EU is not related to the DMA, but is due to Apple "not being able to find a solution that complies with the EU's fundamental privacy and security standards."

Apple had previously proposed to EU regulators a plan to gradually introduce a new mechanism over 18 months, allowing third-party companies access while ensuring user data security, but this proposal was rejected. Renier stated that Apple did not seek an appropriate solution compliant with EU rules, but instead requested an 18-month exemption, an option the EU has ruled out as its laws "leave no room for negotiation."

The Digital Markets Act restricts certain behaviors of tech giants designated as "gatekeepers," enabling the EU to conduct market investigations and sanction non-compliance. Since its enactment, the EU has initiated a series of enforcement actions against US tech firms under this law, with companies like Google facing fines. The US government has threatened "countermeasures" against Europe.