Tech
Big changes for Apple, Google other tech giants as new laws take effects
Europeans using Apple, Google and other major tech platforms woke to a new reality Thursday as a landmark law imposed tough new competition rules on the companies — changing European Union citizens’ experience with phones, apps, browsers and more.
The new EU regulations force sweeping changes on some of the world’s most widely used tech products, including Apple’s app store, Google search and messaging platforms, including Meta’s WhatsApp. And they mark a turning point in a global effort by regulators to bring tech giants to heel after years of allegations that the companies harmed competition and left consumers worse off.
The broad obligations apply only to the EU, which could leave tech users in the United States and other markets looking longingly at some of the features Big Tech is rolling out in response to the European directive.
In one seismic shift to comply with the law, Apple said it plans to let EU users download iPhone apps via third-party app stores — easing its grip on iOS for the first time since the App Store’s debut 15 years ago.
In another significant change, Google said it will alter search results to drive more traffic to independent comparison-shopping or travel-booking sites, instead of directing users toward Google Flights or other tools it owns. Google will also allow Android users to select a preferred browser and search engine from a menu of options when first setting up their devices, rather than defaulting users to Google’s Chrome browser and search engine. That could give a leg up to rival browsers such as Opera or Mozilla’s Firefox and competing search engines including DuckDuckGo or Microsoft’s Bing.
Users of messaging apps such as Signal or Viber, meanwhile, could soon be able to send chat messages directly to people who use Meta’s Messenger and WhatsApp platforms, under a new openness requirement imposed on the social media giant.
And streaming services such as Spotify and Netflix could potentially market discounts within their apps to those that buy subscriptions through the services’ respective websites rather than through proprietary in-app payment systems once forced on app developers by the app stores.
The EU’s edict
The industry-wide changes are linked to the Digital Markets Act (DMA), a 2022 law requiring dominant online platforms to give users more choices and rivals more opportunities to compete. Its broad obligations affect six of the world’s largest tech companies: Amazon, Apple, Google, Meta, Microsoft and ByteDance, the parent company of TikTok.
By mid-May, that list could also include Elon Musk’s X and Booking.com, the European Commission said this week.
Violations of the DMA can lead to stiff penalties, including fines of up to 10% of a company’s global revenue and up to 20% for repeat offenses. For most of the regulated companies, that would translate to tens of billions of dollars.
For years, policymakers around the world have accused tech giants of monopolizing digital markets and using consumers’ personal data to entrench their power or to identify new markets to dominate. The tech giants, for their part, have insisted they compete vigorously, have created valuable opportunities for entrepreneurs and unlocked billions of dollars in economic activity.
Europe’s broad new rules highlight skepticism of that defense and showcase how the EU has led the charge on tech regulation globally, sometimes with ripple effects for the rest of the world.
The trading bloc has approved other comprehensive legislation in recent years regulating digital privacy, social media and, soon, artificial intelligence. Some of its regulations have had broader impacts: In 2022, a new EU law forcing Apple to use USB-C as the charging standard for mobile devices prompted Apple to adopt the standard for all its new iPhones, including in the United States.
Targeting certain gatekeepers
Europe’s new competition law does not directly target the six named companies. Rather, it says that companies meeting a specific size threshold must abide by certain “gatekeeper” rules to prevent them from abusing their enormous economic power.
One way the EU plans to regulate that power is by giving consumers more control over how tech giants use their personal information. Under the DMA, EU citizens will be able to opt out of having their usage history from one app shared with other apps owned by the same company. For example, Google users will be able to prevent their search and browsing histories from being shared with Google’s YouTube video platform, which could affect what videos YouTube suggests to users. Amazon, meanwhile, will need consumers’ consent before using their Prime Video, Kindle or Audible usage history to create targeted recommendations or advertisements on its e-commerce marketplace.
Europe’s first-of-its-kind digital competition law draws contrasts to the United States, where proposals to regulate the tech industry have repeatedly floundered. Some of the ideas in the DMA have been replicated in US legislation but have failed to pass amid industry opposition and ordinary congressional gridlock.
While the law could increase demand for tech companies to extend EU-specific features to other markets, few platforms have shown signs they plan to do so. For example, Apple’s app store plans for Europe diverge significantly from changes to its US-based app store that it was forced to make as part of an antitrust lawsuit involving “Fortnite”-maker Epic Games. Apple has not given any indication it will harmonize the two sets of policies.
Consumer groups say the DMA promises to lower prices for Europeans by forcing platforms open and requiring them to compete on a more level playing field.
“We have worked really hard at the EU level to get this law adopted to improve digital markets in benefit of consumers,” said Agustin Reyna, legal director at BEUC, a coalition of EU-based consumer advocacy organizations.
Tech pushes back
But some tech companies have pushed back on the DMA, warning that it could lead to unintended consequences.
Google, for example, argued this week that its changes to search results in response to the DMA could drive more searches to aggregators of travel or restaurant listings rather than to individual hotels, airlines, restaurants and retailers. It also warned that because of the new requirements around data-sharing, many of Google’s recommendation features “won’t work in the same way anymore,” suggesting life could become less convenient for users who revoke their consent.
Meanwhile, Apple has said that requirements to support third-party app stores could expose iOS users to greater amounts of spammy or malicious software, due to Apple’s weakened control over app developers.
“The new options we’re introducing to comply with the DMA necessarily mean we will not be able to protect users in the same way,” Apple wrote in a white paper it published last week ahead of Thursday’s compliance deadline. “The changes the DMA requires will inevitably cause a gap” between EU users’ security and the security Apple users enjoy outside the EU, it added.
That may have a kernel of truth, but proponents of the DMA have said it can be difficult to determine where legitimate objections to the law end and where self-interest begins.
As companies begin to comply with the letter of the DMA, expect some to try to evade its spirit by using consumer scare tactics or “dark patterns,” subtle interface designs intended to nudge users toward sharing more of their data or making other choices a company prefers, Reyna said.
“These include misleading language such as ‘use for free’ when consumers pay [for a service] with their data,” BEUC wrote in a report last week. “Data protection options are buried in a maze of settings, and the use of contrast and colours for the ‘accept’ and ‘refuse’ buttons can steer users to the response the gatekeeper wants.”
Some companies are already accusing tech giants of flouting the law.
On Wednesday, Epic Games published emails showing Apple blocked its request this month to launch a third-party app store on iOS in Europe. In a complaint to EU officials, Epic said Apple justified the decision by referencing Epic’s past deliberate violation of Apple’s app store terms and Epic’s public criticism of Apple.
If Apple’s decision is allowed to stand, it will mean tech giants can thwart competition and undermine the law just by pointing to a rival’s past efforts to call out anticompetitive behavior, said Tim Sweeney, Epic Games’ CEO.
Past US court rulings have upheld Apple’s right to cut ties with Epic for any reason, Apple said in a statement. “In light of Epic’s past and ongoing behavior, Apple chose to exercise that right.”
The European Commission has asked Apple to explain its actions under the DMA, a Commission spokesperson told CNN Thursday. The EU’s executive body is also evaluating whether Apple’s actions “raise doubts on their compliance” with other EU rules, the spokesperson added.
Compliance deadline day
Thursday’s deadline is the final opportunity for gatekeeper companies to submit detailed plans to the European Commission showing how they will comply with the DMA.
After reviewing the plans, which could take weeks or months, the commission may choose to launch investigations into companies suspected of noncompliance. Those probes could last for up to one year. Even after the plans are reviewed, the commission could still launch compliance investigations at any time, particularly if it receives complaints from the public.
The Computer and Communications Industry Association (CCIA), a trade group representing four of the six gatekeeper companies — Amazon, Apple, Google and Meta — told CNN that “regulators need to resist the urge to politicize the process” of reviewing the plans.
DMA enforcement “should be proportionate and unbiased, taking into account the significant differences between gatekeepers, as well as how these services work in reality,” said Daniel Friedlaender, senior vice president of CCIA and head of its Europe office.
Friedlaender warned that the DMA could also frustrate consumers by leading to “product updates they don’t want” or that they could see “changes to their favorite services they really don’t like.”
Check Point Software Technologies Ltd. (NASDAQ: CHKP), a pioneer and global leader of cyber security solutions, has been recognised for the second consecutive year as one of the World’s Best Companies of 2025 by TIME and Statista. Check Point is featured on the list due to its strong employee satisfaction, revenue growth, and sustainability transparency.
“Being recognised on TIME and Statista’s list of the World’s Best Companies of 2025 is an incredible honor,” said Sigal Gillmore, Chief Human Resources Officer, at Check Point Software Technologies. “This achievement reflects the innovation, dedication, and passion of our people worldwide. It underscores our commitment not only to shaping the future of cyber security, but also to fostering a workplace where talent thrives and employees are proud to belong.”
The ranking is the result of three key survey and research dimensions conducted on a global scale in partnership with Statista:
Employee satisfaction: Statista surveyed over 200,000 workers from around the world on their opinions of employers – both theirs and perceptions of others
Revenue growth: Statista looked for companies with positive revenue growth for the past three years
Sustainability Transparency: Statista evaluated companies’ efforts and achievements across environment, social, and an annual Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) report
In addition to being recognised as one of the World’s Best Companies of 2025, Check Point has been recognised five times as the World’s Best Cyber Security Employer by Forbes, as a Best Company to Work For by US News & World Report, one of America’s Best Cybersecurity Companies by Newsweek and Statista and included on Fast Company’s World Changing Ideas 2024 list, among other accolades.
Delta State Governor, Rt. Hon. Sheriff Oborevwori, Friday, inaugurated an Information and Communications Technology (ICT) and Computer-Based Test (CBT) Centre at Onicha-Olona in Aniocha North Local Government Area, describing it as a milestone in bridging the digital divide and preparing youths for opportunities in the 21st century.
Governor Oborevwori, who was represented by the Secretary to the State Government (SSG), Dr. Kingsley Emu, commended the Nigeria Deposit Insurance Corporation (NDIC) for constructing the facility as part of its corporate social responsibility.
He noted that the state government, through the Ministry of Science and Technology, had equipped the centre with modern ICT tools, furniture, and accessories to make it a fully functional hub for digital learning.
“Today’s event is remarkable, as it brings a modern communication and learning hub right to the heart of our community. With the establishment of this ICT and CBT centre in Onicha-Olona, our young people no longer need to look far for such facilities.
“More than just infrastructure, this state-of-the-art centre represents a bold step in our commitment to bridge the digital divide, empower our people, and prepare Deltans with the skills and opportunities to excel in the 21st century,” the Governor said.
He expressed gratitude to Mrs Diana Okonta, former NDIC Board Member, for her strong advocacy in ensuring the project’s take-off, and acknowledged former Governor Senator Ifeanyi Okowa for approving the first phase of the project.
Oborevwori assured that under his administration’s MORE Agenda, Delta youths would continue to have access to platforms that promote digital literacy, job creation, and self-reliance.
He encouraged the people of Onicha-Olona and the wider Delta community to take full advantage of the opportunities the centre provides.
In his remarks, Majority Leader of the Delta State House of Assembly, Hon Emeka Nwaobi, described the centre as a gateway to effective education, innovation, and economic growth for Onicha-Olona and Delta State at large. He commended the state government the completion of the project.
The Commissioner for Science and Technology, Dr. Daniel Odigie, described the facility as a centre for learning and innovation in coding, app development, data analytics, artificial intelligence, and basic computer literacy.
He said the centre was designed to nurture talent, spark creativity, and unlock boundless potential.
Chairman of Aniocha North Local Government, Hon. Chinye Bazim, lauded Governor Oborevwori for situating the project in the area, noting that it would serve as a game-changer in empowering youths and promoting education.
He also highlighted other state government’s projects in the locality, including the nearly completed Issele-Uku–Otulu Road, Onicha-Ugbo township roads, and the College of Nursing Science at Onicha-Uku.
Also speaking, the President-General of the Onicha-Olona Development Union, Sir Patrick Ejido, said the centre, equipped with 300 workstations, solar power supply, and modern facilities, was a beacon of innovation and empowerment for the community.
He thanked the NDIC, community leaders, and other stakeholders who played a role in making the project a reality, while assuring that the host community would protect and sustain the centre.
The event attracted government officials, traditional leaders, community representatives, and youths.
A new telecom company has arrived in Nigeria, aiming to challenge industry giants MTN, Airtel, and Glo.
Lebara Nigeria is inviting Nigerians to reserve their preferred phone numbers through its Number Reservation Portal ahead of its official launch. The company, a subsidiary of London-based Lebara Group, is expected to commence services in the third quarter of 2025.
The portal, featuring the 0724 number series, allows customers to choose combinations with personal significance, such as birthdays, lucky numbers, or simple patterns. It also suggests various numbers, including options similar to users’ current phone numbers on other networks.
Requirements to Reserve a Number
To qualify for a phone number reservation, users must be at least 13 years old and provide basic details to receive a one-time password via email. After verification, they must enter their National Identification Number (NIN), which the system uses to confirm personal information such as date of birth. Verified users can then choose from available numbers, with a confirmation email completing the reservation.
Speaking on the initiative, Mary O. Akin-Adesokan, Lebara Nigeria’s Chief Operating Officer, described the initiative as part of the company’s focus on personalization and customer empowerment. She stated, “Our objective is to synergise personalization with cutting-edge technology, thereby empowering customers to reserve numbers that align with their digital identity. Our readiness with the 0724 series and full interconnect setup underscores our unwavering commitment to seamless integration, customer freedom, and market inclusivity.”
Samuel Alabi, Head of Corporate Communications at Lebara Nigeria, explained: “You buy minutes, not airtime. If your call ends in 30 seconds, you still have 99 minutes and 30 seconds left. That’s the kind of clarity and control we are bringing to Nigerian telecoms.”
According to reports, Lebara Nigeria holds a Tier-5 Mobile Virtual Network Operator (MVNO) licence, which allows it to offer a full range of telecom services. This licence is also the highest category under the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) regulatory framework. As a Tier-5 MVNO, the company is authorised to lease infrastructure from existing networks and build its offerings on top.
Lebara to Offer eSIM:
Lebara Nigeria aims to leverage its global experience as an MVNO to provide affordable, high-quality mobile services in Nigeria. The company will operate on existing network infrastructure, offering both SIM and eSIM options, full nationwide coverage, and real-time billing transparency.
The Federal Government has enacted the closure of approximately 13,597,057 social media accounts due to offensive content and violations of the Code of Practice across platforms, including TikTok, Facebook, Instagram, and X (formerly Twitter).
This information was presented in the “Code of Practice 2024 Compliance Report,” submitted by the promoters of significant interactive computer service platforms, notably Google, Microsoft, and TikTok.
The Code of Practice was collaboratively established by the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC), the National Information Technology Development Agency (NITDA), and the National Broadcasting Commission (NBC).
The 2024 report, titled “Code of Practice 2024 Compliance Report Highlights Social Media Platforms’ Efforts on Online Harm Protection,” disclosed that a cumulative total of 58,909,112 offensive posts were removed from various platforms throughout the year.
In a statement released on Wednesday, Hajiya Hadiza Umar, NITDA’s Director of Corporate Communications and Media Relations, confirmed these statistics, noting that 754,629 complaints were officially documented.
She commended Google, Microsoft, and TikTok for their ongoing compliance with Nigeria’s Code of Practice for Interactive Computer Service Platforms and Internet Intermediaries.
“The compliance reports provide valuable insights into the platforms’ endeavors to address user safety concerns in accordance with the Code of Practice and the platforms’ community guidelines,” she stated.
Hajiya Umar remarked, “The submission of these reports signifies a notable advancement towards fostering a safer and more responsible digital environment for users in Nigeria.
“It also exemplifies the platforms’ dedication to ensuring a secure and trustworthy online ecosystem for all stakeholders.
“This accomplishment reflects the mandates of the Code of Practice, which requires that major service platforms are registered in Nigeria and adhere to relevant legal provisions, including fulfilling their tax obligations while reinforcing the commitment to online safety for Nigerian citizens.
“While NITDA recognizes these commendable initiatives, we emphasize that the enhancement of a safer digital environment necessitates sustained collaboration and engagement among all stakeholders.
“We remain committed to collaborating with industry participants, civil society, and regulatory partners to further enhance user safety measures, promote digital literacy, and foster trust and transparency within Nigeria’s digital ecosystem.”
Aminu Maida, the executive vice-chairman (EVC) of the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC), says President Bola Tinubu has removed the 5 percent excise duty on telecommunications services, as reported by TheCable.
Speaking to journalists in Abuja on Tuesday, Maida said the levy, which had been temporarily suspended, has now been scrapped under the new tax law.
“The excise duty, it was the 5 percent or so, that is no longer there,” he said.
“Before it was suspended, but now the president has been magnanimous to remove it entirely. I was in a room when it was raised, and he said, no, we cannot put this on Nigerians. I was very pleased when the bills came out and we saw his words were followed through.”
On July 6, 2023, Tinubu signed four executive orders, including the suspension of the 5 percent excise tax on telecommunication services to ameliorate the negative impact of tax adjustments on businesses and households.
However, the national assembly, on October 20, 2024, proposed the reintroduction of the excise duty on telecommunications services, gaming, betting, and lottery activities.
The proposal was rejected by the Association of Telecommunications Companies of Nigeria (ATCON), which said it would be unfair for the government to impose an excise duty when it is striving to sustain operations.
The Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) says its decision to return to market-driven pricing in the telecoms sector has spurred over one billion dollars in infrastructure investment in 2025.
Aminu Maida, Executive Vice-Chairman of the NCC, said this during an interactive session with journalists in Lagos on Friday.
He explained that the policy shift, introduced in January and February 2025, allowed mobile network operators to adjust tariffs by up to 50 per cent after nearly a decade of stagnant pricing.
“This act alone, has allowed investments to flow in. We will be revealing more specific figures in the coming weeks after verification, but we are talking about over a billion dollars worth of investment in 2025 alone,” he said.
Maida said that the move restored investor confidence in the sector and reversed a trend of under investment that had slowed network growth and service quality improvements.
According to him, the imbalance in the value chain, where tower companies can adjust prices annually for inflation and exchange rates but mobile network operators cannot had discouraged new investment.
“This is an industry that requires continuous investment. The world is moving ahead, and if we do not create the right conditions, we will be left behind,” he said.
The NCC boss said the commission decided to return to the guiding principles of the 2000 Telecom Policy and the 2003 Communications Act, which allowed market forces to determine fair prices while maintaining healthy competition to protect consumers.
He disclosed that some of the new equipment ordered by operators had started arriving in the country since June, with network expansion and upgrade works already underway.
“We are closely tracking the rollout. We hold weekly calls with operators to monitor how many sites are being built, upgrades done and we step in when they encounter challenges with authorities,” Maida said.
He added that the investments would help address capacity challenges, improve service quality, and ensure Nigeria remained competitive in the global telecom landscape.
The NCC boss also highlighted operational cost pressures facing the industry, noting that operators consumed over 40 million litres of diesel monthly to power their base stations, with most of the product imported.
He said the industry’s dependence on foreign exchange (FX) for importing all network hardware and software added to the challenge, as no major telecom equipment was manufactured locally.
“There is nothing you need to build or upgrade a network today in Nigeria that you can buy locally. Everything from the hardware to the software has to be imported and that requires FX,” Maida said.
On protecting telecoms infrastructure, he said the commission was working with the Office of the National Security Adviser to develop a framework for rapid response forces tailored to the unique challenges in each region.
He noted that threats vary by location, with some coastal areas requiring community-based engagement, while high-insecurity zones may need stronger civil defence presence.
According to him, the protection strategy goes beyond force and focuses on addressing structural issues that make telecom sites vulnerable, such as poor security measures, generator theft and community disputes.
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