Spotify’s top boss, Daniel Ek, isn’t pleased with how Apple is handling the European Union’s Digital Markets Act (DMA). In a chat with Bloomberg, he took a swing at Apple, urging EU officials to crack down on the tech giant soon. Ek insists it’s high time “to make sure the rules stick” against Apple. Bloomberg’s Samuel Stolton reports:
Ek called Apple’s efforts to follow the DMA a “joke.” He accused the iPhone maker of dragging its feet and finding ways to avoid fully cooperating with the law, which puts tight controls on big tech companies.
“Europe needs to prove it’s serious about enforcing the rules already in place,” Ek told Bloomberg on Tuesday. He also pointed out that regulators in the U.S. are starting to pay closer attention to Apple’s actions.
The EU has already shown it’s unhappy with Apple’s first attempts to follow the DMA. Talks are likely underway about whether Apple should face bigger penalties.
Stolton adds: “EU competition boss Teresa Ribera has promised a decision on Apple’s DMA follow-through by late March. The law lets her slap fines as high as 10% of Apple’s yearly global earnings.”
Things have shifted a bit politically since then, though. With the U.S. President now pushing back against such moves, it’s uncertain if the EU will keep pressing Apple. Spotify and Ek have been vocal supporters of tougher rules on Apple for a while, so this latest nudge to the EU isn’t shocking. Still, Ek’s fresh complaints might stem from worries that the EU could drop the ball and let Apple off the hook.