The Tame Apple Press is incandescent with rage after discovering that its favourite company will not be allowed to peddle its AI on European iPhones.
Apple insisted that its Siri AI would only be allowed into Europe if the EU bent its Digital Markets Act. When the EU said no the rules apply to everyone, even Apple, Jobs’ Mob threw its toys out of the pram and refused to allow its AI into Europe.
The Tame Apple Press rushed to Apple’s aid, publishing stories about how evil and terrible the EU was for forbidding Apple fanboys to get their paws on its AI.
European Commission spokesman Thomas Regnier said regulators needed to set the record straight after Job’s Mob blamed Brussels for the delay.
“I think we indeed need to set the record straight. So first, the decision not to roll out Siri AI in the EU is Apple’s and Apple’s only,” Regnier said.
Regnier said Job’s Mob demanded a waiver from DMA interoperability rules. Those rules are meant to stop gatekeepers using their platforms to keep rivals out of the market.
The issue was Siri AI’s deep access to iPhones and iPads. Under the DMA, rivals would need access to the same operating system, hardware and software features used by Siri in iOS 27 and iPadOS 27.
“Apple was simply unable to develop interoperability solutions that meet essential EU privacy and security standards,” Regnier said.
“Instead of trying to find a suitable compliance solution, Apple simply made a request to the European Commission to be exempted from their interoperability obligations under the DMA” for at least 18 months, Regnier said.
Brussels was not in the mood to hand Job’s Mob a free pass.
“Guess what? That’s not an option. Because it would mean no other AI agent other than Siri AI, by the way, powered by Google, would have an equal chance to be chosen by iPhone users. EU law is non-negotiable. The Commission won’t give any exemptions.”
Apple senior vice-president Craig Federighi said: “Our hope is to eventually bring Siri AI to the EU, and we will continue to engage with EU regulators on a path forward. However, their refusal to engage constructively on solutions that preserve privacy and security means we do not currently have a timeline for Siri AI’s availability on iOS and iPadOS in the EU.”
The row boils down to how much access Job’s Mob gave Siri AI inside its own devices. The company claims it built privacy safeguards to stop excessive data collection.
Brussels says that if Siri gets that access, other AI agents deserve a fair crack at the same features. Job’s Mob apparently preferred asking for 18 months of special treatment, which went down about as well as a soggy croissant.
