The EU antitrust regulatory agency has accused Apple of violating EU technology rules, which could result in the iPhone manufacturer being fined heavily. The company is also facing another investigation into the new fees imposed on application developers.
In March of this year, the European Commission launched an antitrust investigation against Apple under the newly enacted Digital Markets Act (DMA). This survey lists several concerns about Apple's business behavior, including whether Apple is preventing app developers from letting users know about cheaper app subscription methods outside of the Apple ecosystem (AppStore).
According to a notice issued by the European Commission, Apple has been informed of its preliminary investigation results that the App Store rules violate the Digital Markets Act as it prevents application developers from freely directing consumers to other channels for discounts and content.
In addition, the European Commission has initiated new non-compliance procedures against Apple due to concerns that its new contract requirements for third-party app developers and app stores, including Apple's new "core technology fees," may not ensure effective compliance with Apple's obligations under DMA.
If it is ultimately found to have violated regulations, Apple will be fined a huge amount, up to 10% of its global annual revenue.