Apple has released the number of monthly active users of the various versions of the App Store in Europe to comply with the Digital Services Act. disclosures published by Apple’s legal resources website reveal that the iOS App Store in Europe has 101 millions users, while the iPadOS App Store is a distant second with 23 million. The macOS App Store is home to six million users, while the tvOS App Store boasts one million.
Apple Books, Podcasts and the watchOS App store, all of which are paid subscriptions in Europe, have less than 1 million users per month.
DSA regulations in Europe impose stricter rules on platforms with more than 45 million users
According to the recently-enacted DSA law, tech platforms with more than 45 million users are classified as very large platforms (VLOPs), which must provide researchers with key data to “provide greater insight into the evolution of online risks.” This list included Apple App Stores, Facebook, Twitter and TikTok. The companies on this list must be proactive in analyzing and reporting any risks related to artificial intelligence and algorithms.
Apple claimed in February, that the iOS App Store is its only product which qualifies as a VLOP. However, it did not disclose the number of monthly active users at the time. Apple said it would adjust its other products, despite only being legally required to provide its iOS App Store numbers.
Apple intends to align all existing versions of its App Store, including those that don’t currently meet the VLOP threshold, with existing DSA requirements. This is because Apple wants to protect users from illegal content.
A report, based on documents obtained by Corporate Europe Observatory (CEO) and Global Witness, revealed that the tech giants Apple, Meta and Google had increased their lobbying expenditures in Europe after the DSA and DMA were proposed back in December of 2020. Apple, Meta, Google and Amazon spent more money on lobbying the EU than any other tech firm. The DMA (Digital Markets Act) was proposed in December 2020.
