European Commission Says Apple Alone Blocked Siri AI Rollout in EU

*The European Commission states that Apple chose not to launch its AI-enhanced Siri in the EU after requesting an 18-month exemption from DMA interoperability rules, a request the regulator rejected.*

The European Commission has pushed back on the idea that its Digital Markets Act forced Apple to withhold an upgraded Siri from European users. Spokesperson Thomas Regnier said the decision rests entirely with Apple.

Nothing in the DMA bars new features from reaching EU customers, Regnier noted. The Commission and Apple held limited discussions about the feature, yet Apple did not propose a compliant path. Instead it sought a temporary waiver from the law’s interoperability requirements.

That exemption would have prevented EU users from selecting any AI agent other than Apple’s own for 18 months. Regnier called the request non-negotiable under the DMA, which applies equally to every designated gatekeeper.

The Commission’s position leaves Apple to decide whether to ship a version of the feature that meets existing interoperability obligations or to keep it out of the EU market. No further regulatory barrier has been cited.

Why it matters

The exchange shows the DMA operating as intended rather than as an outright ban on innovation. Apple retains the ability to release new products, but must do so without locking users into a single AI provider. For developers and consumers in Europe, the outcome hinges on whether Apple treats compliance as a design constraint or a reason to delay.

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Sources:

• Daring Fireball

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