Apple’s new rules technically make it possible to create alternative iPhone app stores in the European Union. But this does not mean that such big developers as Meta are ready to join this offer.

CEO Mark Zuckerberg shared his company’s thoughts on Apple’s new policy during Meta’s Q4 earnings call:

I don’t think what happens with Apple will matter to us. Because I think the way they’ve implemented it, I’d be surprised if any developer decided to go to alternative app stores. They’ve made it so burdensome and I think it’s so contrary to the intent of the EU regulators that it’s going to be very difficult for anyone, including us, to take what they’re doing there seriously.

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Although Apple claims that sideloading poses a security threat, the EU’s Digital Markets Act (DMA) has forced the company to open access to iPhones in the region. However, the devil is in the details, and Apple is introducing new fees that could destroy the business model of free apps like Meta if they are distributed outside of the App Store, reports The Verge.

Zuckerberg’s comments echo complaints from other prominent critics of the App Store, including Spotify, Epic Games and Microsoft. Epic CEO Tim Sweeney called Apple’s approach to sideloading “hot garbage.” David Heinemeier Hansson, author of the Ruby on Rails programming language and CTO of 37signals, called it “extortion mode.”

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European regulators have said they will examine Apple’s sideload implementation after March 7, when the DMA comes into effect. The EU has the right to fine companies that break the law up to 10% of their annual revenue.

The App Store in the EU generates only 7% of Apple’s global revenue