Apple to allow independent payment options for dating apps in Netherlands, complying with a ruling from a Dutch market regulator
Apple is now allowing dating apps in Netherlands to offer non-Apple payment options. (Image source: Apple)
Complying with an order by the Netherlands' Authority for Consumers and Markets, Apple is now allowing developers of dating apps to offer non-Apple payment options. By allowing developers to use payment options outside of Apple's system, the company is forgoing the 15-30% cut that it takes on app sales and in-app purchases.
On December 24, 2021, Netherlands’ Authority for Consumers and Markets (ACM) decided that Apple had been abusing its dominant position in the market by not allowing developers of dating apps to use independent payment options. The authority gave the company till January 15, 2022, to allow dating apps to offer non-Apple payment options.
Apple said on Saturday that it is now complying with the Dutch market regulator’s orders. While the company is in the process of appealing the decision, it is offering “additional payment processing options for users” of dating apps downloaded from the Dutch App Store.
Cupertino has repeatedly come under fire for not allowing developers to use payment options outside of its ecosystem. The Dutch investigation and the subsequent regulation are the latest in a series of anti-trust investigations that Apple has faced from authorities around the world.
It remains to be seen whether ACM forcing Apple to drop its monopolistic practices would have any effect on other markets.
Fawad Murtaza - Senior Tech Writer - 625 articles published on Notebookcheck since 2021
I am Fawad, a fellow tech nerd. As a tech junkie, my relationship with technology goes back to my childhood years. Getting my first Intel Pentium 4 PC was the start of journey that would eventually bring me to Notebookcheck. Finally, I have been writing for tech media since 2018. From small no-name projects to industry leaders, I have worked with a number of tech publications.