Apple is fighting a massive $2 billion EU fine for App Store practices

Apple is pushing back against a $1.95 billion antitrust fine from the European Union over alleged constraints on competing music streaming services on the App Store. The penalty was issued in March following a complaint from Spotify in 2019. Apple has filed a lawsuit to appeal the decision, arguing that there is no evidence of consumer harm. The EU also instructed Apple to stop blocking rival music-streaming platforms from informing users about lower-cost subscription options outside the App Store. Spotify claims it had to raise prices due to Apple’s App Store policies. The EU is investigating both Apple and Google for compliance with the Digital Markets Act, which aims to prevent gatekeepers from restricting developers from offering cheaper payment options outside their app marketplaces.