European iPhone Users Will Not Receive Apple Intelligence Update

Apple is putting the brakes on releasing some of the biggest iOS 18 features in the EU. They're doing this because they're worried about following the new rules the EU has put in place.

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According to reports, when iOS 18 and macOS Sequoia come out, they won’t have some big new features in the EU. These missing features include Apple Intelligence, a way to show your iPhone screen on your Mac, and something called ScreenPlay Screen Sharing. Apple’s holding these back for EU users for now.

Bloomberg says this is all because of the Digital Markets Act. This is the same law that made Apple allow other app stores and payment options on their devices. It’s also the reason Apple had to let other payment methods use the NFC chip in their devices, not just Apple Pay.

Apple told Bloomberg that they’re worried about user privacy. They said if they released these new features in the EU, they might not be able to keep people’s data private because of the new rules about making different systems work together.

Apple remains tight-lipped about the specific threats prompting this App Store removal. It’s unclear if there’s a hidden vulnerability or if this is a more general security push. This follows their earlier move to block saving web pages as iPhone home screen apps in the EU, a decision they later reversed. This lack of transparency leaves room for speculation about Apple’s true motivations.

There’s still a window of opportunity to find a solution before Apple’s new OS launch to the public this September. This timeframe allows space for Apple to clarify the threats and potentially work with developers to address them.