Apple’s newly introduced fees for app developers are drawing heightened scrutiny from European Union (EU) antitrust regulators, according to a Bloomberg report on Monday. The investigation centers on Apple’s new “core technology fee,” which charges developers €0.50 ($0.51) per app installation, raising concerns about potential cost inflation for software makers.
The EU regulators have reportedly distributed a fresh round of questionnaires as part of their inquiry, examining whether the new fees align with the bloc’s Digital Markets Act (DMA). The DMA, aimed at curbing the power of major tech platforms, restricts certain practices and imposes fines of up to 10% of a company’s annual revenue for violations.
Key Concerns Under Investigation
Officials are investigating whether Apple’s fee structure might result in higher costs for consumers or force developers to alter their business models. They are also questioning Apple’s claim that the new system will reduce costs for developers.
The timing of this scrutiny coincides with calls from Big Tech leaders in the U.S. for President-elect Donald Trump to push back against the EU’s regulatory actions targeting American technology firms.
Apple’s Regulatory Challenges
Apple has been under increasing pressure from regulators in both the U.S. and Europe over the fees it imposes on third-party developers using its App Store. While Apple maintains that 85% of developers on its platform pay no commission, the newly introduced fees have raised fresh concerns about compliance with the DMA.
Shares of the Cupertino-based tech giant fell by 1.8% in early trading following the news. Neither Apple nor the European Commission provided immediate comments on the matter.