Europe will not have access to Apple’s upcoming Siri AI assistant at its launch this fall, despite the product being introduced simultaneously in cities like London and Toronto, according to recent reports. The absence of the AI feature in key European markets such as Paris and Berlin highlights the ongoing challenges posed by the continent’s stringent tech regulations.

Apple announced that Siri AI will debut on iPhones and iPads later this year, but the company cited regulatory hurdles in Europe as the reason for withholding the rollout there. The European Commission maintains that the decision to delay Siri AI in Europe is entirely Apple’s own and is not explicitly prohibited by the bloc’s flagship Digital Markets Act (DMA). However, experts note that the regulatory framework’s requirements effectively complicate the launch.

The DMA mandates that when a major AI assistant launches in Europe, competitors must be granted equivalent access to users’ messages, files, and chat histories to foster a competitive market. Apple proposed implementing a software security layer and a phased rollout plan to ensure user safety and compliance. According to Apple, the European Commission rejected this approach, citing concerns over data access and security.

The regulatory landscape in Europe, shaped initially during the era of browsers, app stores, and messaging apps, struggles to accommodate the operational nature of AI assistants. Unlike previous technologies, these AI tools are deeply integrated into device operating systems and handle users’ most sensitive data, raising significant security concerns. Researchers have demonstrated vulnerabilities that could be exploited, making regulatory authorities reluctant to permit broad access without stringent safeguards.

Analysts suggest that Europe’s current tech regulations have inadvertently stifled innovation. While designed to open markets and protect users, the DMA and prior laws like the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) have imposed high compliance costs, particularly burdensome for smaller firms. This environment favors large U.S.-based tech companies that possess extensive legal resources, which has led to consolidation rather than competition. This dynamic has contributed to the absence of European tech giants comparable to Apple or Google in the AI sector.

Since the enactment of the GDPR in 2018, venture capital investment in European startups reportedly declined by approximately 25% relative to the United States, reflecting the difficulties faced by emerging technology companies operating under strict regulatory demands. Moreover, the anticipated export of European regulatory standards globally, sometimes framed as a goal of establishing Europe as a “regulatory superpower,” has not materialized as envisioned.

A report to the European Commission by former European Central Bank President Mario Draghi identified Europe’s regulatory environment as a significant factor weighing on the continent’s technological competitiveness. Despite acknowledgment from policymakers, regulatory reform has been slow, and many observers argue that Europe’s protective measures now function more as barriers than as enablers of innovation.

Some European politicians have begun advocating for more flexible regulatory approaches, recognizing the continent’s potential to compete at the technological frontier. However, as it stands, the Digital Markets Act appears to have limited consumer choice by restricting the availability of advanced AI technologies such as Apple’s Siri AI, raising questions about the future direction of European technology policy.