Brazilian antitrust regulator upholds order against Apple over App Store restrictions

Today, Brazilian antitrust regulator CADE voted unanimously to maintain a provisional measure issued last week requiring Apple to loosen restrictions on how iOS developers offer services and handle payments in their apps. The measure stems from an investigation launched in 2022 following a complaint by Latin American e-commerce giant Mercado Libre. App Store restrictions under fire At the heart of the case is Apple’s long-standing policy that forces iOS developers to use its in-app payment system, which charges commissions of up to 30%, and forbids them from informing users about alternative payment options outside the App Store. According to CADE’s technical staff, this violates Brazil’s competition laws by limiting choice and disadvantaging developers. The council’s decision restarts (yet again) the clock on the compliance deadline to 90 days, up from the 20 days set initially by CADE’s technical unit in November 2023. It also affirms that Apple must allow alternative payment m ... Read full article.