Is the EU opening the door to piracy? Apple warns about the consequences of the DMA

Since the DMA law came into force, Apple has been required to allow third-party app stores in the EU, which has already led to the active distribution of pirated applications through alternative platforms, including AltStore Classic.

The Digital Markets Act (DMA), a European Union law aimed at limiting the monopoly of digital giants, has already shown its first results: Apple has lost full control over the distribution of applications. Despite the company’s warnings about the potential risks of piracy due to sideloading (installing applications bypassing official stores), new alternative stores have begun to appear in the iOS environment.

One of the first and most famous examples was AltStore, a program designed to install tweaked, cracked or modified versions of applications on the iPhone. On April 17, 2025, a new feature in AltStore was launched that gives access to a hidden part — AltStore Classic, which allows you to install almost any cracked software, including Spotify, YouTube Premium, emulated iOS/macOS apps, and more.

• While Apple has made efforts to control the installation of third-party applications, new tools like AltStore hide the “hacking mode”, making it difficult for Apple to interfere without violating the DMA. As a result, the company loses the protection mechanisms that were previously a key advantage of the iOS ecosystem.
• The DMA is intended to open up markets and remove barriers, which allowed Apple to remain the sole provider of the App Store for iOS for years. The law obliged the company to provide the ability to install third-party app stores, although Apple openly stated that this approach increases cyber risks, including an increase in the number of malicious and pirated applications.

Apple is caught between the DMA and digital chaos. The company is obliged to comply with the new European regulations, but at the same time it cannot guarantee the same level of security for users. Sideloading is a new reality in Europe, and the transition to an open model is accompanied by a de facto invitation to piracy. This is a challenge not only for Apple, but also for legislators, who now need to balance competition and security.