Apple faces a fresh probe from Italy’s competition authority, which opened a case on Tuesday over the company’s handling of iCloud. Regulators allege that iCloud enjoys preferential treatment compared to rival cloud services, violating interoperability rules under the EU Digital Markets Act. The investigation examines data access, API restrictions, and potential market dominance for consumers.

Apple has spent nearly $3 billion in fines across the globe for antitrust violations, yet it rarely admits wrongdoing. In the past, the firm has chosen to withdraw from markets instead of complying with regulators. This latest case follows similar scrutiny over Siri’s AI services and restricted developer access for EU regulators in Italy case.

Under the Digital Markets Act, Apple must give third‑party cloud providers equal access to iOS and iPadOS components. Italian officials claim that rivals lack the same integration Apple’s own service receives. If the regulator finds evidence, the EU Commission will review the findings and could impose further sanctions on the case that may affect ecosystems.

Consumers may see limited choice if Apple continues to block third‑party cloud services from accessing core OS features. The outcome will test the EU’s Digital Markets Act enforcement and set a precedent for other tech giants. The Italian regulator will submit its report to the EU Commission by month’s end of the investigation to authorities.