On April 30, Fast Technology reported that the EU defined Apple's iPad OS as a "digital gatekeeper", It is required to follow the same new regulations as iOS. In the future, iPadOS will allow EU users to download and use alternative app stores, browser engines, etc.

It is understood that there are two conditions for a gatekeeper to meet: first, it must have an annual income of at least 7.5 billion euros in the EU countries in the past three fiscal years, or an average market value of 75 billion euros in the last fiscal year, while providing its core platform to at least three EU member states.

Secondly, it must operate a core platform, which has at least 45 million monthly active users in the EU every year in the past three fiscal years, and has more than 10000 EU enterprise users every year.

Previously, the EU defined Apple's iOS system as a "digital gatekeeper". The latest version of iOS system has been open to sideloading, allowing users to use third-party app stores to sideload apps.

This time, the iPad OS will also follow the rules of iOS, and will open side loading, It is expected that Apple will push updates and adjust application distribution rules for iPadOS soon.