Apple faces fine for refusing in-app payment changes in Brazil

In Brazil, significant developments have occurred regarding Apple's in-app purchase policies. Brazil's antitrust authority, Cade, mandated that Apple remove its restrictions on in-app purchases within 20 days following a complaint from e-commerce company Mercado Libre in 2022. This ruling reflects a broader trend of increased scrutiny on Apple’s App Store practices globally. As regulators in different countries have begun to challenge Apple's control over payment processing and subscriptions, the Brazilian decision is particularly notable. Citing consumer choice and competition in digital markets, Cade's ruling echoes similar decisions made in Europe, Japan, South Korea, and the United States, where Apple has already begun allowing third-party payment options or links to external websites. If Apple fails to comply with the ruling, it risks incurring fines of $43,000 per day, underscoring the seriousness of the Brazilian regulator’s stance and the urgency for Apple to adapt its business practices to avoid financial penalties. This move signals potential changes in how digital marketplaces operate in Brazil, promoting fair competition by enabling developers to manage payments more flexibly and independently.