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Italy Opens Antitrust Probe Into Apple Over Cloud Services Access

By  |  June 16, 2026
Apple

Italy’s competition authority has launched an investigation into Apple over concerns that the tech giant may be giving its own cloud services an unfair advantage, marking another significant test of Europe’s efforts to rein in the power of major digital platforms.

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    The Italian Competition Authority (AGCM) announced Tuesday that it is examining whether Apple has complied with interoperability requirements under the European Union’s Digital Markets Act (DMA), legislation designed to prevent so-called “gatekeeper” companies from abusing their dominant market positions.

    According to Reuters, regulators are investigating whether third-party consumer cloud service providers have the same ability as Apple’s iCloud to interact with hardware and software features on devices running iOS and iPadOS. Under the DMA, companies designated as gatekeepers must provide competitors with effective and free access to certain operating system functions to ensure a level playing field.

    The probe centers on allegations that rival cloud providers may not have access to the same components and capabilities that Apple reserves for its own iCloud service. If confirmed, such disparities could place competing services at a disadvantage and limit consumer choice in the fast-growing cloud storage market.

    Read more: Apple Says Siri AI Won’t Launch in EU Amid Regulatory Dispute

    The investigation is notable because it represents the first inquiry launched by Italy’s antitrust regulator under the DMA framework. While enforcement authority ultimately rests with the European Commission, national competition agencies can conduct preliminary investigations and share their findings with Brussels.

    The case underscores the broader shift in European antitrust policy from punishing anti-competitive behavior after the fact to proactively shaping how dominant technology companies operate. Regulators increasingly argue that interoperability obligations are necessary to prevent large platforms from leveraging control over their ecosystems to suppress competition.

    Apple has frequently defended its tightly integrated approach by citing privacy and security concerns, arguing that restricting access to certain system functions helps protect users. Critics, however, contend that these justifications can also reinforce barriers that make it more difficult for competitors to challenge entrenched services.

    Source: Reuters