Following a €500 million fine imposed on Apple in April for violating the Digital Markets Act, the European Commission has stated that Apple continues to breach the law and has demanded that it allow developers to provide promotions or related discounts through channels outside the App Store.

While Apple has recently permitted developers to sell in-app digital content through third-party payment methods, it has been accused of imposing unnecessary "barriers" in external transactions to persuade users to complete payments using Apple's transaction tools. The Commission noted that when users click external payment links within the app, a warning appears indicating they will be redirected to an external site, stating that Apple will not be responsible for the privacy and transaction security of such links, which effectively guides users to perceive risks associated with external transactions.

The European Commission has warned that if Apple does not improve its practices, a further penalty of 5% of its global market revenue will be imposed. Apple expressed disappointment with the Commission's decision, arguing that the nearly 70-page ruling did not reasonably assess its practices and emphasized that its actions were taken with consideration for the privacy and transaction security of European users. The company also stated that this ruling could negatively impact market innovation and competition, and will appeal before the June 22 deadline set by the Commission.