Spanish Regulators Investigate Apple App Store: Potential Fines Billions!

Apple's App Store faces legal problems in Spain. (photo; x @dailyintake2023I

JAKARTA Spanish antitrust regulator CNMC announced on Wednesday 24 July that it had opened an investigation into Apple's alleged anti-competitive behavior related to its App Store. However, this accusation was immediately denied by the tech giant.

CNMC states that Apple is suspected of imposing unequal commercial conditions on mobile app developers sold in its market. These practices can be considered a serious violation of competition laws and can be fined up to 10% of the company's global income, according to regulatory statements.

Apple firmly rejects allegations that it imposes unequal commercial conditions against mobile app developers.

"Spanish developers of all sizes compete on the equal footing on the App Store," Apple said in a statement. "Apple will continue to work closely with the Spanish Competition Authority to understand and respond to their concerns," he added.

The CNMC investigation follows two different investigations opened by the European Commission on Apple: one about whether the company violated the Digital Markets Act which aims to ensure fair competition for smaller competitors, and another about the new costs imposed on app developers.

In March, Brussels fined Apple 1.84 billion euros (IDR 32.4 trillion) for hampering competition from rival streaming music services through restrictions on its App Store, Apple's first fine for violating EU rules.