Uniform mobile phone charging cable: The EU warns Apple against cheating

The European Commission has warned Apple not to withhold some features for accessories certified by the company in the upcoming change in charging connector technology for iPhones. Restrictions on interaction with chargers are not allowed.

This was emphasized by Thierry Breton, EU Commissioner for Industry, in a letter made available to the German Press Agency in Brussels. The EU directive for uniform chargers is expected to come into effect on December 28, 2024.

Apple’s proprietary “Lightning” charging connector has been used in iPhones since 2012. In Europe, it has been decided to prescribe the USB-C standard as a uniform charging technology.

Mid-year guide

With his warning, Breton was referring to media reports that Apple is considering using an authentication chip to restrict charging or data transfer through accessories without Apple certification. “Devices that do not meet the requirements for the unified charger will not be approved on the EU market,” Breton stressed. The Commission reminded Apple of this at a meeting in mid-March.

By the third quarter of this year, the Brussels government wants to publish a guide to ensure a “uniform interpretation of the law”.

The chairwoman of the European Parliament’s internal market committee, green politician Anna Cavazzini, accused Apple of trying to circumvent EU rules.

Apple is silent

Apple is not commenting on the reports or Breton’s letter. Apple has a certification program for the “Lightning” cables. The company warns that uncertified “Lightning” cables can damage devices or cause them to malfunction. It would be technically possible to only enable fast charging or fast data transfer with certified USB-C cables.

In October, EU countries finally approved the uniform charging cable project. They had previously negotiated a compromise on the details with the European Parliament. By the end of 2024, devices such as mobile phones, tablets, e-readers, digital cameras, headphones, portable speakers and keyboards must be able to be charged via USB-C.

(dsc/sda/dpa)