The Dutch consumer watchdog has said it would vet Apple’s move to allow developers of dating apps to offer non-Apple payment options in the Netherlands, to see if the changes are enough to meet competition rules.
Late last month the Dutch Authority for Consumers and Markets (ACM) ordered Apple to make changes for apps on offer in the Apple App Store in the Netherlands by January 15, Economic Times reported.
ACM said in a statement that Apple had informed it about how the company intends to comply and the watchdog will now assess whether Apple’s response is adequate.
“As part of that assessment, ACM will sit down with dating-app providers, among other interested parties,” it said.
The Coalition for App Fairness, which represents a group of app developers including Match Group and Epic Games, could not immediately be reached for comment. The group had applauded the ACM’s December decision.
Apple’s practice of requiring developers to use its system and pay commissions of 15-30 percent on digital good purchases has come under scrutiny from regulators and lawmakers around the world. However, the Dutch order and Apple’s response cover only the Netherlands and only dating apps.