"In addition, Apple is developing features to restrict network operators from intervening in the data traffic. This is called [iCloud Private Relay] which ensures providers no longer have access by encrypting and redirecting the data via Apple’s servers."
It seems very likely that Apple would simply disable the ability to disable this if it is abused. (In this specific case, it seems likely that they'd leave it for WiFi but disable for mobile networks.)
This is not Apple versus Vodafone/Telekom, it's Vodafone/Telekom vs. EU citizens. The EU has already made the big move to just outlaw roaming charges within the EU, which was a mayor revenue stream for the carriers, for example.
And even these companies ruined that. Making it more expensive than it should realistically be. Living in country with large area and low population density our mobile charges are very reasonable. But somehow these companies don't manage to provide same service in much denser country. Thus pushing up the still allowed inter-operator roaming charges...
The EU already has a lot of regulations in place that particularly hurt EU companies. GDPR for example is good for citizens but requires extra effort by companies. Small US companies can ignore it until they are big enough to expand into the EU market but small EU companies need to follow the law from the start.
He just written an example - all EU companies need to follow GDPR from day 1 if they also operate here. Do you need a list of few thousand companies to consider it good enough example?
Another example - roaming charges dropped, this directly hurt all telcos big time.
GDPR is a set of regulations which are far easier to follow from the start than attempt to deal with after being in business for 20 years without having to consider.
The core of complying with GDPR are that you can provide a customer with a view of what data you hold on them, that you can delete it on request, that that data is accurate (and resolve if not), and if you’re doing anything non-obvious with it then you ask permission.
Designing for all of that from the start is relatively simple, particularly if you don’t go and integrate with every analytics/tracking SaaS under the sun.
Luckily for the EU not a single company was located in the EU prior to GDPR.
I mean nothing stops even small US companies from planning for GDPR if they want to expand to Europe. There's no advantage for European companies here.
This can be and is easily disabled by a network or mobile configuration. Vodafone and Deutsche Telekom will just do the same. https://developer.apple.com/support/prepare-your-network-for...