Apple has been accused of violating Dutch competition laws or faces fines of up to 50 million euros

Financial Associated Press (Shanghai, editor Xia Junxiong) news, local time on Friday (December 24), the Netherlands' top competition regulator said that Apple violated the country's competition law and ordered Apple to modify its App Store payment policy.

It is reported that as early as 2019, Dutch regulators have begun to investigate whether Apple's behavior constitutes an abuse of market dominance, but later narrowed the scope of the investigation, mainly focusing on dating software.

According to the decision released Friday by the Dutch Consumer and Market Authority (ACM), Apple would have to adjust the unreasonable conditions in its App Store that apply to dating software developers, that is, allow them to use other payment systems. Apple has been asked to implement rectifications by Jan. 15, and if it doesn't comply, the company will face a fine of up to 50 million euros.

Apple responded on the same day: "We do not agree with the order issued by ACM and have filed an appeal. Apple did not dominate the software distribution market in the Netherlands and invested a lot of resources to help developers of dating software attract customers, thus thriving on the App Store. ”

Apple has long required app developers to use its built-in payment system and take a 15 to 30 percent commission when users buy digital goods, a practice that is being closely watched by regulators and lawmakers around the world.

In August, South Korea's parliament passed amendments to the Electronic Communications Business Act, requiring app platform operators such as Apple and Google to allow developers to use third-party payment services. Google has said it will allow developers to use third-party payment services, but will still charge commissions, while Apple has yet to comment on South Korea's laws.

In addition to South Korea, the United States and the European Union have launched legislative proposals for Apple's App Store that would force Apple to change its in-app payment policies, as well as other business practices that developers oppose.