Apple: For allegedly failing to meet the standards of alternative payment methods for dating apps, the Netherlands Authority for Consumers and Markets (ACM) today fined Apple an extra five million euros. For the fourth week in a row, the ACM has imposed a punishment on Apple, totaling 20 million euros.
An official statement from the ACM said that Apple’s demand that dating app developers submit a separate app binary in the Netherlands if they desire to provide other payment mechanisms is unfair and disadvantageous.
Another issue that the ACM has is Apple’s insistence that dating applications use either the normal in-app purchase system or an alternate method of payment. Before, the Dutch competition authorities stated dating apps must be allowed to provide both alternatives.
Apple will be fined up to 50 million euros a week by the ACM until it has completely complied with the ruling, at which point it will stop fining the business.
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It was earlier this month that Apple released further information for dating apps in the Netherlands, stating that it would collect a 27% fee on sales made in dating applications that utilise other payment methods.
According to Apple, users’ privacy and security are at danger from the use of third-party payment methods in the App Store. When it comes to refunds, subscription management, and other difficulties, Apple says it will not be able to help consumers who have purchased digital products and services via other channels.