The European Union has fined Apple 1.84 billion euros for violating antitrust rules in the market for music streaming services on its iOS mobile platform.
The penalty focuses on enforcing Apple’s anti-stealth provisions, which place restrictions on the ability of music streaming apps to tell consumers about cheaper deals outside of Apple’s App Store.
The iPhone maker has its own music streaming service, Apple Music, and competitors – such as Spotify – have argued that the restrictions put them at a disadvantage compared to the platform operator.
Today it said the Commission The restriction had prevented European consumers from making a free choice.
The penalty follows an antitrust complaint filed by Spotify in March 2019 — which argued that Apple’s App Store rules “intentionally limit choice and stifle innovation at the expense of the user experience” and accused the iPhone maker of intentionally it disadvantaged other app developers because it is also a “gamer”. and referee”.
In June 2020, the EU announced a formal antitrust investigation into the App Store — saying at the time that it concerned the tech giant’s terms and restrictions, such as anti-direction provisions that prevent developers from informing users of cheaper ways to pay for content outside the Apple Store, may distort competition.
This was followed by a formal EU statement of objections in April 2021, when the Commission accused Apple of operating its App Store in a way that distorts competition in the market for music streaming services. Three years on the block confirmed a finding that Apple violated its antitrust rules.
Last month, the FT reported that Apple faces a €500 million antitrust fine over music streaming. But the fine announced by the Commission today is significantly higher.
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