The European Union has accused Apple of unlawfully discriminating in opposition to EU clients after discovering the Cupertino firm’s geo-blocking measures could also be violating the bloc’s client safety guidelines.
Introduced through a press launch on Tuesday, the European Fee and the Shopper Safety Cooperation (CPC) mentioned a joint investigation had recognized “a number of probably prohibited geo-blocking practices” that Apple applies to its App Retailer, iTunes Retailer, Arcade, Books. Podcasts, and Apple Music providers. Points embody limiting customers to cost strategies issued in the identical nation the place their Apple account was registered, stopping app downloads supplied in different EU/EEA international locations, and having restrictive, region-specific interfaces.
“Within the app model of those providers, customers are solely allowed to entry the interface made for the nation the place they’ve registered their Apple account and face vital challenges when making an attempt to alter this, which isn’t allowed underneath EU’s anti-geo-blocking guidelines,” the CPC Community mentioned within the press launch. These guidelines and different EU service laws prohibit firms from putting “discriminatory provisions” on providers that limit EU clients primarily based on nationality or nation of residence.
“We’re stepping up the struggle in opposition to geo-blocking. No firm, huge or small, ought to unjustly discriminate clients primarily based on their nationality, place of residence or place of firm,” European Commissioner Margrethe Vestager mentioned within the press launch.
