The Netherlands fined Apple another €5 million

IT House reported on February 8 that the Dutch Consumer and Market Authority (ACM) has fined Apple 5 million euros (about 36.5 million yuan) for the third consecutive week for allegedly failing to meet its requirements for dating apps to replace payment systems.

ACM said today that it still hasn't received enough information from Apple to assess whether Apple properly complied with the order. Competition regulators will continue to fine Apple 5 million euros a week, up to 50 million euros (about 365 million yuan), until it discovers that the company has complied.

Last month, ACM said Apple had "set up several hurdles" for dating apps that wanted to offer an alternative payment system in the Netherlands. For example, developers must submit a rights claim form on Apple's website, and the rights can only be used for new binary apps that are published separately on the App Store in the Netherlands.

Apple also forces dating apps to choose between the App Store's standard in-app purchase system or other payment systems, ACM said. Regulators say dating apps must be able to offer two options in the Netherlands.

Apple last week provided additional details for dating apps that want to offer alternative payment systems in the Netherlands, including that it will charge a 27 percent commission on transactions in dating apps that use alternative payment systems.

Apple appealed the ACM order, arguing that alternative payment systems in the App Store pose a privacy and security risk to customers. Apple also said it will not be able to assist customers with refund requests, subscription management, and other issues encountered when purchasing digital goods and services through alternative systems.