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.”
A federal high court in Abuja has affirmed the legality of the Nigeria Inter-Bank Settlement System Plc (NIBSS) as the manager of the bank verification number (BVN) database.
In a judgment delivered on Friday, James Omotosho, presiding judge, ruled that NIBSS operations are consistent with the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) Act and other relevant financial laws.
NIBSS, represented by Wolemi Esan, a senior advocate of Nigeria (SAN), filed the suit.
The case listed the Incorporated Trustees of Digital Rights Lawyers Initiative, the CBN, and the attorney general of the federation (AGF) as first to third defendants.
NIBSS sought a declaration affirming that its management of BVN data does not violate Nigerians’ constitutional right to privacy or any other existing laws.
It also requested a perpetual injunction restraining any entity or individual, including the Digital Rights Lawyers Initiative, from contesting its statutory role.
The company argued that it was empowered to develop and regulate a nationwide infrastructure for electronic payments and fund transfers, and that the BVN system falls within this mandate.
NIBSS accused the Digital Rights Lawyers Initiative of repeatedly filing lawsuits, directly or through proxies, challenging its authority and claiming privacy rights violations.
In support, Kofo Abdulsalam-Alada, counsel for the CBN, filed a counter-affidavit stating that NIBSS’s role in managing the BVN database is lawful, constitutionally approved, and essential for financial security and system stability.
He cited Section 47(2) of the CBN Act (2007) and provisions of the Banks and Other Financial Institutions Act (BOFIA) 2020 to affirm the CBN’s authority to establish and regulate payment systems.
Delivering judgment, Omotosho ruled that the BVN initiative does not infringe on privacy rights and affirmed NIBSS’s authority to maintain the system.
He noted that the CBN’s regulatory powers are well-established in BOFIA 2020 and relevant laws.
“NIBSS has the power to manage the BVN. The court grants the reliefs of NIBSS as prayed,” the judge ruled.
He also issued a perpetual injunction restraining the Digital Rights Lawyers Initiative and any other parties from challenging NIBSS’s management of the BVN.
Omotosho concluded that the judgment is a judgment in rem, binding on all persons and entities unless overturned on appeal.
A judgment in rem is a court ruling that is binding on the whole world, rather than just the parties involved in the lawsuit.
The Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) has collaborated with the Association for Progressive Communications and other institutional stakeholders towards addressing challenges confronting rural network connectivity in Nigeria.
The collaboration resulted in a two-day workshop hosted in Abuja from June 3-4, 2025, to explore policy framework for enabling community networks towards bridging the digital divide and accelerating socio-economic development in Nigeria’s underserved and unserved communities.
The forum brought together regulators, community leaders, technical experts and potential foreign investors, among others, to examine policy and regulatory barriers, explore innovative funding mechanisms, ensure sustainable renewable solutions and strengthen collaboration with stakeholders.
Addressing participants at the workshop, the Executive Vice Chairman of NCC, Dr. Aminu Maida, said the workshop is important to bridging the digital divide in Nigeria and foster inclusive social economic development.
“This workshop is an opportunity for all of us to harness the expertise, insights, and experiences of diverse stakeholders present here which includes the regulators, community leaders, technical experts and potential foreign providers to address the critical challenges such as affordable devices, access, licensing, spectrum allocation, infrastructure development, sustainability and institutional monitoring,” said Maida, who was represented by the Executive Commissioner, Technical Services, NCC at the event, Abraham Oshadami.
Maida said the workshop demonstrates the Commission’s commitment to advancing digital inclusion, particularly in underserved and unserved areas. “At NCC, we recognise the transformative potential of community center networks in achieving this important goal,” he said.
The EVC said NCC was committed to “this journey and views this workshop as a catalyst for meaningful change,” stating that the expertise, perspectives and commitments will shape the future where every Nigerian, regardless of his or her status, will have meaningful access to opportunities from digital connectivity.
In her remarks, Co-manager of the Association for Progressive Communications’ Local Network (LocNet) initiative, Kathleen Diga, noted that the collaboration was to tackle identified hindrances to digital inclusion. “This is a space where we can be open and exchange ideas of possibilities, opportunities that will remain in realising values of a diversified ecosystem.”
Diga said, “I believe this workshop presents a moment in time that we can explore the bottom-up approach in local communities, small social enterprises, corporative among others, which have the ability to fill some of the digital gaps that remain unfilled,” she said, adding emphasising the need to recognise that community centre connectivity exists and they are grow throughout the global south, which, she said, are a “strategic response to digital exclusion.”
The workshop featured presentations from the NCC, the Association for Progressive Communications and other institutional stakeholders such as the Rural Electrification Agency (REA) and the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) all geared towards exploring a joint policy framework to address rural digital divide.
The Association for Progressive Communications is a 35-year-old international network member-based organisation encouraging digital inclusion in the unserved communities, particularly with communities in the global south and the workshop, through its LocNet initiative aimed at crafting an enabling inclusive regulatory framework for community networks in Nigeria.
WhatsApp has ceased to function on several smartphones with older or outdated operating systems (OS) from June 1, 2025.
The messaging app has raised its minimum system requirements to improve security and performance, rendering it incompatible with certain phone models.
According to the update, iPhones must now run iOS 15.1 or later, while Android devices need at least Android 5.1. This means that support for models like the iPhone 5s, 6, and 6 Plus, the Samsung Galaxy S4, the Sony Xperia Z1, and others has been lost.
The update aims to enhance security and performance, as outdated devices can no longer support modern app features.
Users on older hardware have been strongly advised to back up chat histories and migrate to newer devices before June 1 to avoid service interruptions.
However, iPhone 6s, iPhone 6s Plus, and the first-generation iPhone SE will remain functional only if updated to iOS 15.8.4. Owners of these models are advised to install the latest iOS iteration to maintain access to WhatsApp.
Meta’s decision to phase out support for legacy operating systems is a proactive measure to ensure the app’s security and introduce enhancements, ultimately maintaining the app’s reliability and user experience.
Meta-owned instant messaging (IM) and voice-over-IP (VoIP) app WhatsApp has launched new, exciting features that promise to invigorate the users.
Apart from the new features, Meta has made improvements in the design with an aim to make chats more appealing and inventive for users.
These new features include various tools created to improve the visual appeal of messages, provide more personalised options, and streamline user interactions.
New Features Are
Camera effects: Meta has introduced camera effects with the help of which WhatsApp users can now choose from a range of 30 backgrounds, filters, and effects when taking and sharing photos or videos over their chats.
Selfie stickers: WhatsApp has added this new feature for users who love to create custom stickers and can now turn selfies into stickers easily. However, this feature is available only on Android devices. The iOS version will follow soon.
Share sticker packs: Users can now easily share sticker packs with other users. If a user spots a sticker pack that they think the other user will like, they can share it directly within their chats.
Quicker reactions: WhatsApp has also introduced quicker reactions with which users can now double-tap a message to quickly react, with the app displaying a list of their most-used reactions for fast access.
Earlier, in October 2024, WhatsApp expanded the chat filter feature, adding the ability for users to create custom lists that contain specific chats of their choice while in November, the ability to transcribe voice messages was added, allowing users to read out what was said in a voice message, rather than listening to the audio.
In December 2024, WhatsApp introduced several new video calling features, including the ability to select specific participants from a group to make a call, rather than calling all group members. Visual effects also became available, adding visual filters to a user’s video feed.
In December 2024, WhatsApp introduced a reverse image search feature, allowing users to verify image authenticity directly within the app using Google Search.
India.com
In a fresh wave of challenges for iPhone users, U.S. President Donald Trump has issued a significant ultimatum regarding Apple Inc.
According to Trump, the tech giant would be subjected to a hefty tariff of 25 percent on all iPhones manufactured overseas and imported into the United States. This move is part of a broader strategy aimed at reshaping trade relations and encouraging domestic production.
The implications of such a tariff could have far-reaching effects on both Apple and its loyal customer base, raising concerns about affordability and accessibility of iPhones in the US market.
He later added that Samsung and other phone makers would face a similar tariff, “otherwise it wouldn’t be fair”. The tariffs would likely take effect at the end of June, he said.
Trump posted the comments on Apple on his social network Truth Social. “I have long ago informed [CEO] Tim Cook of Apple that I expect their iPhone’s that will be sold in the United States of America will be manufactured and built in the United States, not India, or anyplace else,” he said. “If that is not the case, a Tariff of at least 25% must be paid by Apple to the U.S.,” the president wrote.
His comments on Samsung “and anybody that makes that product” were added later in response to questions at the White House, the Wall Street Journal reports.
Apple investment in US
Cook met with Trump at the White House this week, according to a White House official. Apple has previously pledged to spend USD 500 billion on its operations in the US. However, this is largely with or by suppliers, and Apple continues to manufacture iPhones in Asia.
The US government previously exempted smartphones from most of its tariffs on China. In response to the threat of a China-US trade war, Apple started early this year shifting more production to India and Vietnam with its partner Foxconn in order to avoid any impact.
The US is Apple’s biggest market for iPhones, and the company accounts for over half of the smartphone market there.
According to figures from Counterpoint Research, Apple had a 57 percent share of the US market in Q1 2025, followed by Samsung with 25 percent and Lenovo (Motorola) with 11 percent.
Shipments of iPhones and other smartphones made in China to the US fell to their lowest level since 2011 in April, according to Chinese customs data reported separately by Bloomberg.
Smartphone exports were down 72 percent to less than USD 700 million during the month, compared to a 21 percent fall in overall Chinese exports to the US. Smartphones were the number one export from China to the US in the year 2024.
MTN Group and Airtel Africa have agreed to share network infrastructure in Nigeria and Uganda while complying with local regulatory and statutory requirements, as reported by Telecompaper.
They aim to improve network cost efficiencies, expand coverage and enhance mobile services for millions of customers, particularly those in remote and rural areas.
They are exploring opportunities in other markets, including Congo-Brazzaville, Rwanda and Zambia, and considering agreements for areas such as RAN sharing, fibre infrastructure sharing and, if necessary, the construction of fibre networks.
The two companies said they are committed to working with other mobile operators in the countries where they have a presence, to achieve the advantages of network sharing.
The parties will continue to function as independent market entities and will compete freely in shared markets. This engagement does not preclude the parties from collaborating with other operators in any respective market, they added.
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