Apple Delays Live Translation and New Features in EU Due to Digital Markets Act

Apple has formally escalated its criticism of the European Union’s Digital Markets Act (DMA), urging regulators to reconsider the legislation’s implementation after revealing how it has forced delays to key product features—including the highly anticipated Live Translation feature for AirPods. In a statement released last month, Apple detailed how the DMA’s requirements to open its ecosystem to third-party app stores and payment systems have created “concerning changes” to how its products function for European users.

The tech giant’s plea comes as the EU Commission continues to gather feedback on the DMA’s impact, with Apple now publicly calling for a reassessment of the law’s scope and enforcement. The company’s stance marks a sharp contrast to its initial compliance efforts, signaling growing frustration over what it describes as “unintended consequences” that could erode the seamless user experience Apple has long championed.

At the heart of the dispute lies the DMA’s mandate for “interoperability” and “third-party app store access,” which Apple argues has forced it to prioritize compatibility with non-Apple services before rolling out new features to its own ecosystem. The result? European users are now waiting for innovations like Live Translation in AirPods, which Apple had previously announced as a 2025 release but has since delayed due to engineering work required to meet DMA compliance.

The DMA, which entered into force in November 2022 and became fully enforceable in March 2024, targets “gatekeeper” tech firms like Apple, Google and Meta to promote fair competition in digital markets. However, Apple’s latest statement suggests the law’s implementation has created friction between regulatory goals and user experience—particularly in how Apple products integrate and function as a unified system.

Why Apple Is Pushing Back Against the DMA

Apple’s frustration stems from the DMA’s requirement that certain features must be made available to third-party app stores and non-Apple devices before they can be offered to Apple’s own ecosystem. This “interoperability” rule, while designed to foster competition, has created a bottleneck in Apple’s development process. The company argues that this approach forces it to “rebuild” features from the ground up to ensure they work across platforms—a process that consumes significant engineering resources and delays innovation.

“The DMA is forcing us to make some concerning changes to how we design and deliver Apple products to our users in Europe,” Apple stated in a September 2025 newsroom post. “This requires a lot of engineering work, and it’s caused us to delay some new features in the EU.”

One of the most visible examples is Live Translation in AirPods, a feature that would allow real-time language translation through the device’s earbuds. Initially slated for release in 2025, Apple has since confirmed that this and other features are being held back due to the additional compliance work required. The company did not specify a new timeline for these features but emphasized that the delays are directly tied to DMA obligations.

“The DMA is impacting many parts of our EU users’ experience on our products—from how they download apps and make app payments, to how their Apple products work together.”

How the DMA Affects European Users

The DMA’s requirements extend beyond feature delays. Apple has also had to adjust how its products interact with third-party services, including app distribution and in-app payments. While these changes align with the DMA’s goal of reducing Apple’s control over its ecosystem, they have introduced complexity for users accustomed to Apple’s seamless, closed-system experience.

For instance, the DMA now requires Apple to allow alternative app stores on iOS devices, meaning users in the EU can sideload apps from sources other than the App Store. While this could benefit developers by reducing Apple’s 15–30% App Store commission, it also introduces security risks and fragmentation—issues Apple has long warned about. The company has argued that these changes could expose users to malicious apps and disrupt the curated experience they expect from iOS.

the DMA mandates that Apple’s App Store must support third-party payment systems, giving users more choices for in-app purchases. However, this shift has led to confusion among developers and consumers alike, as the transition away from Apple’s unified payment system creates additional steps and potential fees.

The Broader Impact on Developers and Competition

While Apple’s concerns focus on user experience and product development, the DMA was primarily designed to address market dominance and promote competition. Critics argue that Apple’s pushback is an attempt to protect its business model rather than genuinely address consumer harm. However, Apple’s statement highlights a real tension: balancing regulatory goals with the technical and user experience challenges of forced interoperability.

Developers, too, are caught in the middle. Some have praised the DMA for reducing Apple’s stranglehold on app distribution, while others warn that the new rules could create a fragmented marketplace with inconsistent security standards. The EU Commission is currently gathering feedback from both consumers and businesses to assess the DMA’s impact, with Apple’s latest statement adding significant weight to the debate.

What Happens Next?

The EU Commission has indicated it will review the feedback it receives from companies and citizens before deciding whether to adjust the DMA’s implementation. Apple’s formal request for reconsideration suggests it expects this process to be thorough, but there is no confirmed timeline for any policy changes.

In the meantime, European users can expect continued delays in new features while Apple works to comply with the DMA’s requirements. The company has not ruled out further adjustments to its products or services in the EU, and developers should prepare for ongoing changes to app distribution and payment systems.