EU web browsers will have greater independence with Apple iOS 17.4

To comply with the Digital Markets Act (DMA) in the European Union (EU), Apple is implementing significant adjustments to its products and services for the region, including iOS, Safari for iOS, and the App Store. As part of this, the firm will no longer require developers to use WebKit as the browser engine for their web browsers beginning with iOS 17.4. In other words, iOS 17.4 will enable developers to use alternate browser engines in their web browsers.

Many firms, like Google, Microsoft, and Mozilla, develop their own browser engines for web browsers for Android, Windows, and other platforms. For example, Google Chrome is powered by the Blink browser engine, which is part of the Chromium project. Microsoft Edge runs on the same browser engine as Google Chrome. Mozilla, on the other hand, employs the Gecko browser engine in Mozilla Firefox.

Apple mandates developers to utilize WebKit for web browsers in iOS

On iOS, however, these firms do not employ their own browser engines for their web browsers since Apple requires them to use WebKit, which also powers Safari. Fortunately, this will not be the case beginning with iOS 17.4. With the next version of iOS, these companies will be able to employ their own browser engines in their web browsers. The most recent modification also applies to in-app web browsers.

They would be able to provide the same capabilities that they do for other platforms’ web browsers in their web browsers for iOS. Additionally, it would make it possible for their web browser extensions on other platforms to function with their iOS web browser. But this modification will only apply within the EU. This implies that Apple will keep pressuring developers to use WebKit as the web browser engine for their browsers in other countries.

Apple’s wording in the post announcing the modifications makes it seem quite clear that the business objects to the EU making them follow specific rules. There are those who argue that Apple is starting to taste its own medicine. Additionally, the company also announced third-party streaming applications to be allowed on the app store.