Dutch court supports ruling against Apple’s App Store rules

A court in Rotterdam, Netherlands, backed a 2021 decision that found Apple unfairly controlled its App Store, especially for dating apps. The Dutch Authority for Consumers and Markets (ACM) had ruled that Apple’s strict rules were anti-competitive. These rules forced dating app developers to use Apple’s payment system, blocked them from mentioning other payment options, and charged them up to a 30% fee on transactions.

The court agreed with the ACM, saying Apple’s policies limited competition and hurt developers by restricting their choices. This decision keeps in place a €50 million ($58 million) fine that Apple must pay for not following the ACM’s orders to change its practices. In 2021, the ACM told Apple to allow dating apps to use other payment systems or point users to outside payment options, but Apple’s changes, including a 27% fee for non-Apple payments, weren’t enough.

Apple plans to appeal the ruling, arguing that it harms the tools they built to protect users and help developers. This case is part of a bigger global push to challenge Apple’s App Store practices, with similar issues raised in places like Brazil, Germany, and the U.S. The ruling could push Apple to rethink how it runs its App Store, especially for dating apps, as regulators worldwide keep a close eye on tech giants.