Apple’s new proposal is currently under review by the ACM, which says it may force Apple to pay another round of fines ‘with possible higher penalties’
Apple could pay an even larger periodic fine if the Dutch competition regulator doesn’t approve of its latest proposal to address its demands to allow dating apps to use alternate formats of payments.
The Netherlands Authority for Consumers and Markets (ACM) has fined Apple the maximum of €50 million ($55 million) for failing to satisfy its order, and the fine on Monday marks Apple’s 10th penalty.
Apple’s new proposal, submitted on the 27th, is currently under review by the ACM, which says it may force Apple to pay another round of fines ‘with possible higher penalties.’ The Dutch regulator has been levying its fines in weekly €5 million ($5.5 million) increments, but the ACM makes it clear that this amount is subject to increase.
If the new proposal leads to ‘definitive conditions’ for dating apps, the ACM says it will pass those to developers for evaluation. From there, the ACM will give Apple its final decision on whether or not the company’s in compliance.
There aren’t any details about what’s included in Apple’s new proposal, but the company hasn’t been the most flexible when it comes to complying with the ACM’s orders.
In January, Apple said it will let dating apps offer alternate payment options, but only if developers create and upload a separate version of their apps specific to the Netherlands. It would then charge the apps a barely-reduced commission of 27 percent — instead of 30 percent — on any purchases made with other payment providers.
Only a monopolist would prefer to pay €50 million ($55 million) in fines instead of outright complying with the rule of law, said Rick VanMeter, the executive director of the Coalition for App Fairness. We support the ACM’s persistence in holding Apple accountable these past 10 weeks.
The CAF is made up of a group of companies that advocate for competition and accountability for app stores, with founding members that include Epic Games, Spotify, and Tile.