The European Union recently announced a penalty of 18A fine of 400 million euros for violating antitrust regulations in the market for streaming services on the iOS mobile platform. The ruling was upheld by Apple's rival Spotify.
The investigation originated in 2019 when Spotify complained about App Store policies. Spotify has long objected to Apple's 30% charge and complained that it is in an unfair position compared to Apple Music.
Spotify said in its latest blog post that the European Commission has sent a clear message that "Apple's restriction of communication with consumers is unlawful." Apple's regulations make it impossible for apps like Spotify to share various benefits directly with users, which is clearly unfair.
The European Commission's decision is designed to protect the interests of consumers and embodies the basic principles of the free market. Consumers should be aware of their choices and have the right to decide what to buy, where to buy it, and how to buy it.
Although Spotify applauded the European Commission's decision, it also stressed the importance of the details. They hope that future programs will explicitly address Apple's long-standing unfair practices.
Although Apple claims that the European Commission has failed to find any substantial evidence to harm the interests of consumers, the ruling has attracted widespread attention. What do you think about this incident?