In its mission to ensure fair competition in the technology sector across the European Union, the EU Commission has launched preliminary surveys aimed, again, at Apple and its practice of shutting down users within its own ecosystem of apps, products, and services. This time, a digital payment service via mobile devices, Apple Pay, was on the wallpaper of European researchers.
Just one Wallet on iOS
“Mobile payments are playing a fast-growing role in our digital economy. It is important for the integration of European digital payment markets that customers benefit from competition in this innovative market. on their devices, “said European Commission Vice-President Margrethe Vestager.
The European Commission also informed Apple today about its preliminary results of the investigation, which show that this company has abused its dominant position when it comes to digital wallets on iOS devices.
By restricting access to contactless payment technology (NFC) to other companies, they have limited the development of competitive solutions and benefited exclusively from their Apple Pay, the Commission said.
Today we have send @Apple a statement of objections. We are concerned that @Apple may have illegally distorted competition in the market for mobile wallets on @Apple devices. Now @Apple can answer our concerns.
— Margrethe Vestager (@vestager) May 2, 2022
Apple Pay is the only mobile digital wallet solution available on iOS devices, and Apple does not open it to third parties or developers who would like to create their own, competing solutions. Such exclusion of other competitors is contrary to Article 102 of the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union, which prohibits the abuse of a dominant market position.
After informing Apple about this, the Commission announced that they expect an answer, ie Apple’s position on this issue. The results of the preliminary investigations do not prejudge the outcome of the investigation, they say.
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