In an English-language press release issued Monday, the Netherlands Authority for Consumers and Markets (ACM) announced a fine against Apple Inc. for failure to satisfy certain accessibility conditions in the Dutch App Store specifically for dating-app providers. The company has thus far been fined approximately $5.6 million for bucking an August 2021 order. It marks the first payment of up to a $56.47 million penalty.
According to the ACM, and the investigation it conducted, Apple failed to timely adjust its access conditions to permit dating-app providers to use payment systems other than Apple’s payment system or even refer to other systems. The Dutch authority said these requirements were clearly laid out in an August 2021 order which determined that Apple transgressed antitrust rules by compelling the use of its payment system.
“Apple seemingly forces app providers to make a choice: either refer to payment systems outside of the app or to an alternative payment system. That is not allowed. Providers must be able to choose both options,” the press release explains by way of example. The company must now make the changes or face on-going, weekly fines.
A TechCrunch article by Natasha Lomas commented that the fine, even if maxed out, is not a huge concern for Apple. Of much larger concern, the tech news outlet said, is the myriad competition complaints Apple is facing over the allegedly monopolistic commissions it charges on apps and in-app purchases.
In addition to U.S. probes, and private lawsuits such as Epic Games’ high-profile showdown with Apple now on appeal, the company’s developer terms of use are reportedly facing scrutiny in the European Union, the United Kingdom, and Asia.
