Maybe by apple. No when GDPR is the real reason. The GDPR grants also visitors of the EU the rights of the act. So if you are traveling as an American to Europe and want to talk to the Italian waitress you/Apple are breaching her rights but also yours (of eg not being permanently recorded). As a device owner you might consent for the usage but for example data limitation or right to delete might still apply as long as you are on EU soil as an US citizen.

But honestly, I do not believe GDPR is the reason here. Apple is also very privacy focused.

GDPR does grant it rights to EU citizens everywhere in the world but also other nation citizens in EU. I personally like GDPR a lot but I understand that people are complaining about this part