Apple Introduces the Browser Choice Screen, Default Browsers, and Deletion of Apps for EU Users

Apple’s new updates allow users to delete the iOS App Store from iPhones and iPads. This happened after the European Union’s Digital Markets Act, which came into effect on 7 March. 

“By the end of this year, we’ll make changes to the browser choice screen, default apps, and app deletion for iOS and iPadOS for users in the EU,” Apple announced quietly in a developer update. “These updates come from our ongoing and continuing dialogue with the European Commission about compliance with the Digital Market Act’s requirements in these areas.”

The complaint will force Apple to allow users to delete other prioritized apps like Messages, Photos, Camera, and Safari.

Additionally, the update introduces the customized default browsers containing a list of 12 apps. Apple will create a default browser on a “choice screen” for people in the EU. As a result, Europeans will select the apps randomly of their choices which will show a synopsis, and the app automatically downloaded. The updated feature of the choice screen will be available for those who have Safari set as the default browser.

However, the choice screen allows users to operate third-party browsers on iOS. This will raise the revenue loss for Apple, as its App Store generally supports Apple’s provided payment service for in-app purchases which results in generating high revenue.

Moreover, third-party involvement increases users’ privacy and security concerns. Therefore Apple said about the configuration of the system, “In future software updates, users will get new default settings for dialing phone numbers, sending messages, translating text, navigation, managing passwords, keyboards, and call spam filters.”