A Dutch court has upheld a 2021 decision by the country’s consumer watchdog, confirming that Apple abused its dominant market position by enforcing restrictive conditions on dating app providers through its App Store.
The Rotterdam District Court ruled that the Netherlands Authority for Consumers and Markets (ACM) was justified in penalizing Apple for forcing dating app developers to use its in-house payment system, banning external payment references, and charging up to 30% commission fees (or 15% for smaller providers). These practices were deemed unfair and in violation of EU antitrust rules.
As a result of non-compliance with ordered changes, Apple was fined €50 million ($58 million) by the ACM in 2021. In response to the court’s decision, Apple announced its intent to appeal, arguing that the ruling threatens its tools designed to benefit developers while safeguarding user privacy and security.
The case adds to mounting regulatory pressure on Apple across Europe, where authorities are cracking down on anti-competitive digital marketplace practices.
Swifteradio.com
