Margrethe Vestager, executive vice president-designate of the European Commission for a Europe fit for the Digital Age, speaking at Web Summit. |
Some US tech giants may prefer to pay a fine rather than comply with antitrust rules, the European Union's antitrust chief said, and cited Apple's fight with the Netherlands' competition authority as an example.
The Dutch Authority for Consumers and Markets (ACM) imposed
a EUR-5-million fine on Apple on Monday, the fifth such penalty in successive
weeks, linked to claims Apple does allow access to non-Apple payment methods
for subscriptions to dating apps.
European Commission Vice President and digital chief
Margrethe Vestager said Apple's behaviour could indicate other big companies
behave similarly.
"Some gatekeepers may be tempted to play for time or
try to circumvent the rules," she said in an online speech at a US awards
ceremony on Tuesday.
"Apple's conduct in the Netherlands these days may be
an example. As we understand it, Apple essentially prefers paying periodic
fines, rather than comply with a decision of the Dutch Competition Authority on
the terms and conditions for third parties to access its App Store."
Contacted by Reuters, Apple referred to a February 3 blog
post, which said it is required to make the mandated changes to satisfy its
legal obligations in the Netherlands while helping to protect users from
increased risks.
Vestager has proposed landmark rules called the Digital
Markets Act that targets Alphabet's Google, Amazon, Apple, Facebook, and
Microsoft and which could come into effect next year.
One of its requirements would be that Apple allow third
parties to access its App Store. Apple's App Store condition that app developers
exclusively use its payment system with commissions of 30 percent has come
under scrutiny in several countries, most recently the United States. @ Reuters
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