EU fines Apple €1.8 billion in Spotify streaming case

The European Union has fined tech giant Apple €1.8 billion in a case related to its streaming service Spotify. The EU Commission found that Apple had abused its dominant position in the market to harm competition.

The case focused on Apple’s App Store policies, which require developers to use Apple’s in-app payment system and pay a 30% commission on transactions. Spotify had complained that this put it at a disadvantage compared to Apple’s own music streaming service, Apple Music.

EU Competition Commissioner Margrethe Vestager stated, “By setting strict rules on the App Store that disadvantage competing music streaming services, Apple continues to leverage its dominance in the market to harm consumers by favoring its own services.”

Apple has stated that it will appeal the decision, arguing that its App Store policies promote a safe and secure ecosystem for developers and users.

This fine is the latest in a series of penalties that the EU has imposed on tech companies for antitrust violations. Earlier this year, the EU fined Google €4.3 billion for anticompetitive practices related to its Android operating system.