Apple warned on Thursday that Britain’s plan to impose tougher competition rules on mobile operating systems could delay the rollout of new iPhone features in the UK and erode privacy and security protections. In a statement responding to the Competition and Markets Authority’s consultation, the company said the agency’s proposal to give Apple and Google “strategic market status” and mandate greater interoperability mimics the European Union’s Digital Markets Act, which Apple blames for previous feature delays on the continent. The CMA argues its approach differs from the EU model and is aimed at loosening what it says is the Apple-Google duopoly that powers 90-100% of UK smartphones. Draft measures include requiring Apple to let developers steer users to external payment options and to open elements of its wallet and smartwatch technology. Apple counters that such rules would force it to hand over intellectual property free of charge, citing more than 100 data-access requests it has already received under EU law, and would expose customers to higher fraud risks. The regulator will decide by October whether to finalise the strategic market status designations, which would give it power to impose binding conduct requirements and fines for non-compliance. Stakeholders have been invited to submit feedback before the deadline.