The dutch antitrust authority has ruled that Apple should not compel developers to create several versions of dating apps if they wish to accept in-app payments via third-party processors, as Apple continues to defy its App Store order.
One more time, the Netherlands Authority for Consumers and Markets has imposed a punishment on Apple for failing to comply with its App Store dating app rule. Total penalties in this case are now 20 million euro ($22.61 million). The 5 million euro ($5.65 million) fine is the largest to far.
An issue raised by the ACM in its statement on Monday is Apple’s requirement that dating apps serving the Netherlands use an in-app payment processor or create a specific version of their app to be submitted to the App Store. This applies to both apps that link users away from the app and those that use third-party payment processors within the app.
the increased limitations Apple has set on dating-app providers are unjustified and constitute an unneeded barrier,” claims the American Computer Science Association. As a new app is required rather than changing an existing one, ACM considers the restriction a “unreasonable constraint that is at conflict with the standards that Apple had put forth.”
Users would have to switch apps to pay using the new technique, which will add time and money to the development expenses of dating apps. This is why the policy is considered harmful to dating app developers.
According to a statement from the agency, “ACM has questions about numerous other parts of the updated requirements,” which might lead to further difficulties before Apple obtains an acceptable level of compliance.
ACM has previously criticised Apple for giving developers the option of linking to an external site or integrating a third-party system into their apps, but not both at the same time. Apple has now changed its position on this. To allow providers “to pick both choices,” the ACM said on January 22.