In a statement shared with TechCrunch, Apple Fined Another €5 Million Over Dating Apps as Dutch Regulators Say Apple Has ‘Refused to Put Forward Any Serious Proposals’
Apple was hit with a new punishment of €5 million by Dutch authorities as part of an ongoing dispute over payment methods for dating applications. To now, authorities have assessed weekly penalties up to a maximum of €50 million or until Apple achieves the legal requirements, whichever comes first, totaling €25 million for Apple.
Apple has “refused to put up any meaningful alternatives” and “Apple’s so-called’solutions’ continue to create too many impediments for dating-app providers,” according to a statement from the Authority for Consumers and Markets (ACM).
“We haven’t received any fresh suggestions from Apple in the last week that would meet ACM’s standards,” the spokesperson said. Because of this, Apple will be forced to pay a fifth penalty. As a result, the total amount of fines and penalties paid to far is about €25 million.
The ACM’s standards have been properly communicated to Apple, and they can meet them.” Despite this, they have thus far declined to put out any substantive suggestions. In light of ACM’s court ruling on December 24, we are disappointed by the attitude of Apple. For dating-app developers who want to utilise their own payment systems, Apple’s so-called’solutions’ continue to create too many impediments.
As a result, we know that Apple is a powerful firm.” As a result, the company has additional responsibility toward its customers and society as a whole. In order for Apple’s services to be useful, they must have appropriate terms and conditions. It can’t misuse its position of power in such setting. As a result, customers’ interests must be taken into consideration by Apple.”
Only reducing Apple’s commission from 30 percent to 27 percent, requiring developers to maintain separate app binaries for alternative payment methods, and requiring developers to submit monthly records of alternative payment sales to Apple were Apple’s terms for complying with the ACM’s ruling on alternative payment systems.
Apple and the ACM seem to disagree on what measures would meet the original ruling’s standards, and as penalties against Apple mount, it appears that the two sides will stay far apart.