Apple receives EU warning to stop geo-blocking in apps and iTunes Stores
Apple was notified by the European Union that its geo-blocking practices may violate consumer protection rules, adding to the iPhone maker’s regulatory problems in the bloc.
Apple’s App Store, iTunes Store and other media services unlawfully discriminate against European customers based on their place of residence, according to a statement from the European Commission on Tuesday.
The report comes as Apple is being fined for the first time ever under the Digital Markets Act (DMA) for not allowing app developers to steer users to cheaper deals, Bloomberg News reported last week. That punishment will come months after the Cupertino, California-based company was fined €1.8 billion ($1.9 billion or roughly Rs. 16,033 crore) for similar abuses under the bloc’s traditional competition rules.
The geolocation study was conducted in collaboration with a network of national consumer authorities and found that Apple media services only allow users to use payment cards issued in the countries where they registered their Apple accounts, the statement said. The research also shows that the App Store prevents users from downloading apps offered in other countries.
An Apple spokesperson did not immediately respond to a request for comment.
National regulators in the EU can impose fines for breaches of consumer protection law, and the bloc often works with such bodies to flag problems.
According to the statement, Apple has one month to respond to the findings and propose solutions to address the geo-blocking practices.
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