ACM: Apple must allow dating apps to use alternative payment systems – Computer – News

Providers of dating apps in Apple’s Dutch App Store should also be able to use payment systems other than Apple’s payment system. That is what ACM demands from Apple. These providers are not allowed to do this under the terms and conditions. The ACM threatens with a penalty of up to 50 million euros.

The Dutch Authority for Consumers & Markets finds that Apple now uses ‘unreasonable’ terms in the App Store, because dating app providers do not have a free choice in payment systems for purchases that consumers make in the apps. They are now only allowed to use Apple’s payment systems and have to pay a part of the income to Apple. In addition, they have to pay $ 99 per year to be in the App Store, says the ACM.

The ACM says that these conditions are ‘disproportionate to the additional payment service provided’ and that they are not necessary to maintain the App Store. According to the watchdog, these conditions are therefore unreasonable and contrary to competition rules.

Apple is required by the ACM to adjust these App Store conditions, so that dating app providers can also use other payment systems. App providers should also be able to refer to payment options outside the app in their dating app. Apple has two months to do this. If nothing has changed after that, Apple must pay a penalty of 5 million euros per week, with a maximum of 50 million euros.

Apple’s payment system conditions are under pressure in more countries. So obliged an American judge last month that Apple should allow links to alternative payment systems, something that was later reversed. Also in India, Russia in South Korea these conditions are considered.

What is striking about the message from the ACM is that it specifically concerns dating apps. An ACM spokesperson tells Tweakers that research has been done in recent years into Apple’s App Store policy and the impact on the market. This would have shown that dating app providers suffer the most from these conditions. This is where most of the complaints came from, the spokesperson says. That is why ACM first looked at these providers. It is not clear whether other app providers will be looked at later. “We will first see how this goes,” said the spokesperson.

In a response to Tweakers, Apple says that it disagrees with the ACM’s requirement and that it will appeal. “Apple does not have a dominant position in the Dutch software distribution market. In addition, we have invested a lot in helping dating app developers reach customers and let them thrive in the Dutch market. Under EU and Dutch law, we also have the right to charge these providers for all of the services and technologies Apple offers them.”

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