Apple has revised its Developer Program License Agreement, introducing a new section concerning third-party accessories and their management of notifications and Live Activities. This update aligns with the Digital Markets Act (DMA) requirements, which demand interoperability in the European Union.
The revised agreement states that third-party devices are prohibited from using forwarded information for advertising, profiling, or location tracking. Additionally, they cannot share this data, including encryption keys, with any other devices, including the user's iPhone. Apple is adjusting its approach to comply with new regulations, despite previous concerns regarding privacy and security risks associated with the DMA.
Earlier this week, it was reported that the iOS 26.5 beta 1 code hints at future support for Live Activities on third-party accessories specifically for EU users. Apple has expressed apprehension about the DMA's implications, including potential delays in feature rollouts and the risk of exposing sensitive user data, such as the full content of notifications.