Apple Inc., the world’s most valuable technology company, has once again found itself under the scrutiny of European regulators. The European Commission has charged the tech giant with breaching the European Union’s competition rules, opening another formal investigation into its business practices.
The latest charges come as part of an ongoing effort by the EU to ensure fair competition in the digital market. The European Commission, the EU’s executive arm, alleges that Apple has engaged in anticompetitive behavior that stifles competition and harms consumers. Specifically, the Commission’s concerns focus on the company’s App Store policies, which it argues unfairly limit developers’ ability to distribute apps and restricts their ability to compete with Apple’s own services.
Margrethe Vestager, the European Commissioner for Competition, stated, “Apple’s practices have led to a distortion of competition in the market for music streaming services and other app-based services. We need to ensure that Apple’s policies do not negatively impact consumers and developers in the digital economy.”
The investigation is set to scrutinize several aspects of Apple’s operations, including the mandatory use of Apple’s proprietary in-app purchase system and restrictions on developers’ ability to inform users about alternative purchasing options. Critics argue that these policies allow Apple to maintain a monopolistic grip on the app market, collecting substantial commissions on app sales and in-app purchases.
