Apple and Brussels settle antitrust dispute over 'tap and go'

The European Commission has approved Apple’s plans to open up its contactless payments system to rivals, it was announced on Thursday, drawing a line under a long-running antitrust probe.

Brussels said the decision to accept the commitments, which were proposed by Apple earlier this year, made them binding.

It also means Apple will avoid a hefty fine.

The EC opened its investigation in Apple’s so-called tap and go technology in 2020, on concerns that the US tech giant was blocking rivals’ access to favour its own payment system. It ruled in 2022 that Apple was breaking competition law.

In response, Apple offered various concessions, which officials have spent the last six months testing.

Margrethe Vestager, executive vice president in charge of competition policy, said the decision "opens up competition in this crucial sector by preventing Apple from excluding other mobile wallets from the iPhone’s ecosystem.

"From now on, competitors will be able to effectively compete with Apple Pay for mobile payments with the iPhone in shops. Consumers will have a wider range of safe and innovative mobile wallets to choose from."

Anti-competition sanctions imposed by the EU can include fines of up to 10% of a company’s total worldwide annual turnover. Apple’s revenues reached $383bn in 2023.

In a statement, Apple said its offer would give European developers the option to enable tap and pay go payments for car keys, closed loop transit and corporate badges, among others.