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European Union regulators on Monday accused Apple of violating new tech rules by not fully allowing app store consumers to be steered elsewhere.
In a set of preliminary findings, the E.U. found the company to be the first in breach of the Digital Markets Act, a sweeping set of rules designed to prevent Big Tech from stifling competition. It holds that app developers must be allowed to inform users of cheaper alternatives outside the app store — a practice known as “steering.”
“Steering is key to ensuring app developers are less dependent on gatekeepers’ app stores and for consumers to be aware of better offers,” wrote Margrethe Vestager, E.U. executive vice president in charge of competition policy.
Regulators took issue with several policies that Apple applies to app developers, such as preventing them from providing pricing information within its app or promoting certain offers. They also flagged rules applied to linking customers to other apps, as well as certain fees that Apple charges.
The accusations come four months after the E.U. opened an investigation that focused on steering rules by Apple and Alphabet.
The E.U. also said it opened a new probe into Apple’s contractual terms with developers. Specifically, it is looking into a fee of half a euro (about 54 cents), which developers must pay for each installed app, and an Apple membership program for developers. It is also probing the “multistep user journey” required to download and install an alternative app store on iPhones.
This is a developing story and will be updated.
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