EU Directs Apple to Stop Geo-Blocking on Digital Services
On Tuesday November 12,2024, the European Commission ordered Apple to cease geo-blocking practices across its digital services, including the App Store, Apple Music, and iTunes, to ensure fair access to content across the EU digital market, according to Reuters.
The decision sent by the Commission addresses different platforms that Apple operates, from the App Store to Apple Music and iTunes, because access to some content is not made available across the digital market EU.
The EU digital markets actis now directingApple to propose solutions to address these restrictions within one month for a more inclusive EU digital market that treats all consumers as one in all the EU’s territories.
Failure to do so could lead to Apple facing enforcement measures by national regulators in all member states of the EU, or face fines up to 4% of their global annual turnover, according to Reuters.
Digital Barriers in Europe
An order announced by the Commission is part of a wide initiative to make EU commission digital markets fairer and more open across its member states.
“No company, big or small, should unfairly discriminate against customers based on their nationality, place of residence, or place of establishment,” said Margrethe Vestager, the European Commissioner for Competition.
Apple has a month to propose how it will address concerns and end its geo-blocking practices. If iPhone parent does nothing, EU regulators will take further action against them.
EU to Tackle Digital Discrimination
On November 7, 2023, the EU reinforced its commitment to removing barriers in the digital market act EU with an order against Apple, questioning limits on consumer access to the EU digital market content.
The EU’s decision supports the Union’s goal of raising cross-border consumer access and ending digital discrimination on major platforms.
Although Apple has yet to share its response, its actions do hint at significant movement further in the EU’s digital market act agenda towards an open and inclusive digital environment across Europe where consumers would be able to access content unhindered by obstacles posed by platforms.
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