European iPhone users left out: Apple blocks new AI-powered Siri in the EU over DMA dispute with Brussels
What it really says
Just one day after the major Siri announcement at WWDC 2026, Apple disclosed that the new AI-powered Siri will not be available on iPhones and iPads in the EU for now. The reason is a dispute with the European Commission over the interpretation of the Digital Markets Act (DMA). Apple had proposed a solution called 'Trusted System Agent' - an intermediary service that would allow competing voice assistants to access the same features as Siri while maintaining essential security barriers. According to Apple, EU regulators rejected this proposal and instead demanded that any virtual assistant receive direct access to private user data, including the ability to read and send messages, make purchases, access files, and execute actions across any app - without the safeguards Apple considers necessary. Apple called this an 'extreme interpretation' of the DMA and argued that such unrestricted access poses clear dangers to EU users. Notably, the block only affects iOS 27 and iPadOS 27 - Siri AI will still be available on macOS 27, visionOS 27, and watchOS 27 in the EU, as these platforms do not fall under the DMA gatekeeper rules for iPhones. There is no concrete timeline for availability on iPhones in the EU. Apple describes the negotiations as having failed, claiming that regulators refused to engage with Apple's security concerns.
Our assessment
This situation is a textbook case of the tensions between consumer protection and innovation access. For over 30 million iPhone users in Germany alone, the decision means that the AI revolution unveiled with great fanfare the day before will not reach them. That is frustrating, but the background is more complex than Apple's framing suggests. Apple has a legitimate argument: if any voice assistant can access personal data and control apps without restriction, real security risks arise. Deepfake assistants or poorly secured third-party AIs could harvest sensitive information. However, the EU also has a legitimate position: the DMA is designed to prevent gatekeepers like Apple from abusing their market power and excluding competitors. If only Siri gets privileged access to all iPhone features, that is potentially anti-competitive. The truth likely lies somewhere in between. Apple also uses privacy arguments strategically to protect its competitive advantage - it has done this before with App Tracking Transparency. The EU, in turn, risks systematically cutting European users off from AI innovations, which damages the region's competitiveness long-term. It is notable that the block only affects iPhones and iPads, not Macs or Apple Watch. This suggests the issue is specifically about DMA gatekeeper classification, not fundamental technical impossibility. For people concerned about AI, this news also has a reassuring side: EU regulation is functioning as a protective mechanism, preventing tech companies from rolling out AI systems without adequate safeguards.
Relevance for Germany
Germany, with an estimated 30+ million active iPhones, is one of Apple's largest European markets. The block directly affects German users. While US users will enjoy a radically improved Gemini-powered Siri from fall 2026, German iPhone users will be stuck with the significantly less capable current version. This is particularly relevant for German businesses that rely on Apple devices and expect productivity gains from AI assistants. The dispute also spotlights a fundamental debate in German and European technology policy: does the EU's regulatory approach systematically cause Europe to fall behind on AI innovation? The German government faces a dilemma between supporting the DMA as an important tool against market dominance and ensuring Germany's digital competitiveness. The fact that Siri AI will be available on Macs in the EU shows a technical solution is possible - political will on both sides appears to be lacking. For the BSI and the Federal Data Protection Commissioner, the task is to objectively evaluate Apple's privacy arguments and potentially take a mediating position.
Fact check
The primary source is Apple's own newsroom press release from June 8, 2026, citing the DMA as the reason for delaying Siri AI in the EU for iOS 27 and iPadOS 27. MacRumors, Bloomberg, PhoneArena, and Gadget Bridge consistently confirm the core facts: Apple proposed a 'Trusted System Agent' solution, EU regulators rejected it and demanded direct data access for all virtual assistants. Bloomberg additionally reports that Apple accused regulators of refusing to engage with security concerns. The limitation that Siri AI will still be available on macOS, visionOS, and watchOS in the EU is confirmed by MacRumors and Apple's Newsroom. Important caveat: the narrative comes exclusively from Apple. An official EU Commission statement on the specific negotiation process was not available at the time of reporting, making the account one-sided. Apple's framing of the issue as a privacy problem also serves strategic interests, as Bloomberg and MacRumors note.
Source
- • https://www.apple.com/newsroom/2026/06/due-to-dma-siri-ai-delayed-in-eu-for-ios-27-and-ipados-27/
- • https://www.macrumors.com/2026/06/08/siri-ai-not-available-eu-china/
- • https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2026-06-08/apple-delays-siri-ai-for-iphone-users-in-eu-says-regulators-refusing-to-engage
- • https://www.phonearena.com/news/apple-says-siri-ai-will-be-delayed-in-the-european-union-because-of-regulations_id180959
- • https://www.gadgetbridge.com/news/apples-siri-ai-blocked-in-the-eu-for-ios-27-and-ipados-27-as-dma-talks-hit-a-dead-end/