Apple faces escalating fines over Dutch dating app payments

A Dutch regulator warns that while Apple has to pay the maximum 50 million euro ($55 million) fine for failing to abide by its dating app payments order for the App Store, there may be more, higher penalties on the way.

On Monday, the Authority for Consumers and Markets (ACM) confirmed reports from Friday that Apple had failed to comply with its order to enable third-party payments for dating apps in the Netherlands regional App Store. The ordeal for Apple may be far from over, as the regulator offers the threat that more fines could be imposed in the future.

Apple was fined 5 million euro ($5.5 million) per week for ten weeks, for not properly complying with the order. While Apple submitted a new proposal to the ACM on March 22, the company still hadn't complied with the ACM's requirements, so ended up having to pay the tenth and final fine, reaching the maximum issued penalty.

In a statement, the ACM offers that it welcomes Apple's proposal, and that "the adjusted proposal should result in definitive conditions for dating-app providers that wish to use the App Store." After receiving a proposal for definitive conditions, the ACM then will consult with "market participants," such as dating app providers, before issuing a decision of compliance.

Though Apple has to pay out the maximum fine, the ACM warns that there could be more payments in the future. "If ACM comes to the conclusion that Apple does not meet the requirements, ACM may impose another order subject to periodic penalty payments," the regulator writes.

The new fines could include "possibly higher penalties this time around" so that it could "stimulate Apple to comply with the order," it adds.

While a $55 million fine may be a considerable sum for many companies, Apple's vast revenues and cash reserves mean it doesn't necessarily feel much of a pinch when it comes to the fine. After five consecutive weeks of fines, the ACM complained that Apple had "refused to put forward any serious proposals," indicating Apple was dragging its heels on the matter.

It remains to be seen if the ACM will levy a considerable-enough fine against Apple to prompt rapid action.

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23 Comments

rorschachai 62 comments · 3 Years

About 2 years ago

Apple’s next proposal should be to shut down the App Store in the Netherlands. Then these companies can use web apps with whatever payment providers they want and nothing owed to Apple.

Maybe the only thing a web app would lack that a dating app “needs” is notifications. But that is an easy feature to add since Safari already supports them on macOS.

omasou 632 comments · 7 Years

Seems a bit strange that the Netherlands is making such a big fuss about "dating apps".

Is it b/c "dating apps" are used to book appointments int he red light district? And or the "proprietors" are withholding back political kickbacks till they get their way?

bloggerblog 2512 comments · 16 Years

I have a feeling Apple will leverage the rental model to the Netherlands ;)

lkrupp 10521 comments · 19 Years

rorschachai said:

Apple’s next proposal should be to shut down the App Store in the Netherlands. Then these companies can use web apps with whatever payment providers they want and nothing owed to Apple.

Maybe the only thing a web app would lack that a dating app “needs” is notifications. But that is an easy feature to add since Safari already supports them on macOS.

Nope. Why Apple is trying to postpone the inevitable is a mystery. The EU is going to do this whether Apple likes it or not. They cannot withdraw from the EU market anymore than they could withdraw from China or South America or any other market. The hypocrisy here is that Apple has stated that they comply with all the laws of the countries they do business in. When China tells them to remove an app they do it. When China told them to keep Chinese customer’s data on Chinese servers they did it. When Russia told them to include certain Russian domestically developed apps, they did it. If they can comply with totalitarian government dictates then why not the democratic EU? When these EU laws are passed and implemented what’s Apple going to do? If these laws turn out to truly damage Apple’s business then maybe they have a case to appeal.

Always remember the macOS market has had "side loading" and third party payment systems since day one and is quite healthy and profitable for Apple to this day. iOS can implement gatekeeping that can be bypassed by the user if so desired, just like macOS. Warn the shit out of users before allowing it. Scare the crap out of them before letting them download and install questionable software.

We as Apple supporters should also be ready push back when some idiot gets their data or identity compromised and then tries to blame Apple for it, just like the losers who install malware but claim they didn’t do nuttin’.

22july2013 3723 comments · 11 Years

bloggerblog said:

I have a feeling Apple will leverage the rental model to the Netherlands ;)

That seems like a likely scenario. However I'm not sure how Apple will deal with the iPhones that it already sold in that country.

In fact, it seems likely to me that Apple will switch to the rental model across the entire EU. I think that's their secret plan.