Apple Faces EU Antitrust Complaint Over App Store and iOS Restrictions
Apple is facing a new antitrust complaint in the European Union, filed jointly by civil rights organizations Article 19 and Germany’s Society for Civil Rights. The complaint, submitted to the European Commission, accuses Apple of breaching the Digital Markets Act (DMA) through restrictive App Store terms and device policies that limit interoperability and competition.
The complaint argues that Apple’s conditions for developers — including a €1 million stand-by letter of credit (SBLC) — create barriers for small and medium-sized enterprises seeking to distribute or install third-party apps on iOS and iPadOS. The groups claim such practices violate the DMA’s goal of ensuring fair access and consumer choice in digital markets.
Apple rejected the allegations, stating that its rules protect users and developers by maintaining high security and quality standards. The company said it had proposed changes to its credit requirements, but that the European Commission asked it not to proceed.
The European Commission confirmed it is reviewing the complaint as part of its ongoing supervision of “gatekeeper” companies under the DMA. The law allows regulators to impose fines of up to 10% of a company’s global annual revenue for noncompliance — a significant threat for Apple, which was fined €500 million earlier this year for other App Store violations.