Apple’s App Store, Apple Arcade, Apple Music, iTunes Store, Books, and Podcasts unlawfully discriminate against consumers based on their location, according to EU regulators.
The European Commission, together with Irish, German and Belgian competition authorities believe Apple is restricting online access, limited payment methods, and creating barriers to downloading apps based on location within the European Union.
These practices would violate the EU’s Geo-blocking Regulation, which aims to ensure equal access to goods and services for all consumers, regardless of their nationality or residence.
The European Competition Commissioner, Margrethe Vestager, said that the EU was getting tough against geo-blocking.
“No company, big or small, should unjustly discriminate customers based on their nationality, place of residence or place of establishment.
Preventing geo-blocking helps consumers access the goods and services they want across Europe and strengthens the functioning and integrity of our Single Market”, she said
The European Commission and national consumer authorities, including Ireland’s Competition and Consumer Protection Commission, have called on Apple to cease geo-blocking across its media services.
Apple has one month to respond to the findings and propose solutions. If the company fails to address the concerns raised by the EU, national authorities may take enforcement actions, the European Commission warns.
Apple’s European headquarters is in Cork. Ireland’s Competition and Consumer Protection Commission said they “look forward to working with Apple during the next steps of this investigation.”
The company has been approached for comment.