Apple would be forced to allow sideloading and third-party app stores under new EU law

Illustration by Alex Castro / The Verge

Apple would be forced to allow users to install apps from outside the App Store under legislation recently unveiled by the EU. This stipulation was included in the initial proposal for the bloc's sweeping Digital Markets Act, or DMA, which came one step closer to being signed into law this week, and an EU spokesperson confirmed that the provision is still included.

We believe that the owner of a smartphone should have the freedom to choose how to use it," said European Commission spokesperson Johannes Bahrke in an emailed statement. This freedom includes being able to opt for alternative sources of apps on your smartphone. With the DMA, a smartphone owner would still be able to enjoy safe and secure services of the default app store on...

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