Apple has announced it will remove support for progressive web apps (PWAs) on iPhones sold in the European Union, citing compliance issues with the region’s Digital Markets Act (DMA).
PWAs allow websites to be installed on the home screen like native apps while retaining features like push notifications and sign-in persistence. They currently rely on the Safari browser’s WebKit engine.
However, the DMA requires Apple to allow alternative browser engines on iOS. This means PWAs could leverage engines beyond WebKit, raising security concerns per Apple.
In a developer update, Apple said making PWAs DMA-compliant involves impractical work given low user adoption. It also cited potential security risks of non-WebKit PWAs accessing user data and sensors without consent.
When iOS 17.4 launches in March, EU iPhone users will lose PWA functionality. Instead, they can only create basic web bookmarks on the home screen.
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Apple says it cannot make PWAs Safari-exclusive under the DMA, which mandates equality among iOS browsers.
The move highlights Apple’s worries about meeting wide-ranging requirements imposed by the EU’s tech regulations. It also shows the company’s willingness to remove functionality due to compliance complications.