Apple to reportedly face EU charges for stifling competition with App Store policy

Apple is reportedly set to face charges in the European Union for alleged anticompetitive behavior in its App Store — in what would mark the first time EU officials have gone after a Big Tech giant for violating a sweeping digital law.

The European Commission, the EU’s antitrust watchdog, has found that Apple is not in compliance with the Digital Markets Act, which took effect in March and is aimed at tech titans designated as the internet’s “gatekeepers,” the Financial Times reported, citing sources familiar with the matter.

Specifically, Apple violated the DMA’s provisions by charging app developers a fee in order to “steer” customers to make purchases outside the App Store — where the company takes a sizable cut of every sale. Critics have argued Apple’s fees are excessive and stifle competition.

A formal announcement of EU charges against Apple could be made within weeks, the report said.

The sources said the European Commission’s findings are preliminary and that Apple could still avoid charges by altering its business practices to comply with the DMA.

The Post reached out to the European Commission for comment on the report.