Apple is so used to getting its way that it thinks it can beat the entire European government. Good luck with that.

On Friday, Apple announced that it would withhold several new features from the EU when it launches iOS 18 this fall, including AI features it previously said wouldn’t arrive until next year. Then on Monday, the European Commission said it had found Apple the first company to violate the Digital Markets Act (DMA). It appears that Apple is trying to turn iPhone users against Europe by blaming the EC for the withheld features. If it weren’t so pathetic, this latest attempt to circumvent the law would be funny.

"Apple can't 'win' against the EU because the EU simply doesn't give a damn about Apple. The EU doesn't need Apple, but Apple needs the EU. So all this delaying and these small, tiny moves won't help them or convince anyone else. The EU won't back down or make a special snowflake exception for Apple because they're stubborn and won't cooperate," privacy and cybersecurity specialist Sead Fadilpašić told Lifewire via email.

The EC’s ruling is preliminary, meaning Apple still has time to put its house in order before it’s slapped with a huge fine, a percentage of its global revenue. The DMA is designed to rein in giant tech companies in order to encourage competition. For example, the DMA requires Apple to allow alternative app stores on the iPhone and iPad, allow alternative web browsers, and require developers to inform users about payment options outside of the app store.