Italy investigates Apple over cloud competition under EU rules

Italy’s competition authority opened a probe into Apple’s cloud business on June 16, testing whether the company is giving its own iCloud service advantages that rivals cannot match. At the center of the case is a basic interoperability question: whether third-party cloud providers can connect to iOS and iPadOS with the same access to device features that Apple reserves for itself.

The authority said the investigation covers Apple Inc., Apple Distribution International Ltd and Apple Italia S.r.l. and was launched in close cooperation with the European Commission. It said Apple is required under Article 6(7) of the Digital Markets Act to provide third-party consumer cloud providers with free and effective interoperability on iOS and iPadOS, along with equal access to the same hardware and software features used by iCloud.

The complaint goes beyond abstract competition policy. Italy said it had indications that rival cloud storage services may not be on equal footing with iCloud, including a possible restriction on features that let users perform a full backup of their devices. That matters because cloud services now sit at the center of phone storage, data syncing and business continuity, not just consumer convenience. If Apple controls which services can perform core device functions, it can shape which providers can realistically compete for users.

Rome also said this was the first time it had used its powers under Article 38(7) of the DMA, authority it received through Italy’s Law 214 of December 30, 2023. The findings will be shared with the Commission, which remains the DMA’s sole enforcer, but the Italian move signals that national regulators are beginning to test the law in practice rather than leaving enforcement to theory.

The European Commission has said interoperability under Article 6(7) is meant to give third parties access to the same operating-system hardware and software features available to the gatekeeper, so they can compete on equal terms. It also opened two Apple specification proceedings on September 19, 2024, one on iOS interoperability with third-party connected devices and another on Apple’s process for handling interoperability requests, including nine connectivity features.

Apple has defended its integrated model, saying in a September 24, 2025 statement that it designs products to work seamlessly together and protect privacy and security. The company also said the DMA has forced concerning changes to how it designs and delivers products in Europe and has delayed some feature rollouts because of additional engineering work. For Brussels and national regulators alike, the Italian case is a fresh test of whether Europe can really force closed ecosystems to open up.