November 13, 2024 – According to a Bloomberg report, the European Commission stated on Tuesday that Apple’s practice of geo-blocking may violate consumer protection rules, adding to the regulatory pressure the tech giant is already facing in the European Union.
The EU has demanded that Apple halt its geo-blocking practices for services including the App Store, Apple Music, and others. The commission asserted that Apple’s media services, such as the App Store, Apple Arcade, iTunes Store, Apple Music, Books, and Podcasts, unlawfully discriminate against European consumers based on their residence.
An investigation, conducted by the European Commission in collaboration with national consumer protection authorities, revealed that Apple’s media services only permit users to utilize payment cards issued in the same country where their Apple account was registered. Furthermore, the investigation found that the App Store prevents users from downloading applications available in other countries.
Following the announcement, Apple has been given a month to respond to the investigation’s findings and propose remedial measures to address the geo-blocking practices. As of press time, Apple has not provided a response.
Just last week, Apple faced its first penalty under the Digital Markets Act (DMA) due to its failure to allow app developers to direct users to cheaper transactions. A few months ago, the company was also fined 1.8 billion euros by the EU for similar abuses.
