The Dutch antitrust watchdog Authority for Consumers and Markets (ACM) fined Apple 5 million euros, or $5.7 million, on Monday over access to non-Apple payment methods for subscriptions to dating apps.
The ACM says the tech giant is abusing its dominant market position by failing to allow application makers in the Netherlands to use other payment methods for dating apps accessible through the company’s App Store, according to Reuters.
The fine is the fifth such penalty in consecutive weeks in a row, the wire service reported, as Apple had missed a Jan. 15 deadline to make changes that the ACM had mandated. The watchdog noted that Apple has not made any new proposal to comply with the ruling.
“We have clearly explained to Apple how they can comply,” the agency said in a statement, according to Reuters. “So far, however, they have refused to put forward any serious proposals.”
Currently, the App Store requires that app developers only use its payment system, with commissions of 30 percent. The requirement has come under criticism worldwide. Most recently, the U.S. aimed to control Apple’s and Google’s app store market power through a Senate bill that advanced earlier this month.
Apple has said it complied with the ruling by allowing the dating app makers to submit a new app with alternative payment methods enabled, Apple said in a statement. However, the ACM has reportedly rejected the move, as it put the burden on the app creators rather than the tech giant.
Apple said it still plans to charge a 27 percent commission on any in-app payments it does not process, according to Reuters.
The Hill has reached out to Apple for comment.
The Dutch antitrust watchdog Authority for Consumers and Markets (ACM) fined Apple 5 million euros, or $5.7 million, on Monday over access to non-Apple payment methods for subscriptions to dating apps.
The ACM says the tech giant is abusing its dominant market position by failing to allow application makers in the Netherlands to use other payment methods for dating apps accessible through the company’s App Store, according to Reuters.
The fine is the fifth such penalty in consecutive weeks in a row, the wire service reported, as Apple had missed a Jan. 15 deadline to make changes that the ACM had mandated. The watchdog noted that Apple has not made any new proposal to comply with the ruling.
“We have clearly explained to Apple how they can comply,” the agency said in a statement, according to Reuters. “So far, however, they have refused to put forward any serious proposals.”
Currently, the App Store requires that app developers only use its payment system, with commissions of 30 percent. The requirement has come under criticism worldwide. Most recently, the U.S. aimed to control Apple’s and Google’s app store market power through a Senate bill that advanced earlier this month.
Apple has said it complied with the ruling by allowing the dating app makers to submit a new app with alternative payment methods enabled, Apple said in a statement. However, the ACM has reportedly rejected the move, as it put the burden on the app creators rather than the tech giant.
Apple said it still plans to charge a 27 percent commission on any in-app payments it does not process, according to Reuters.
The Hill has reached out to Apple for comment.