Dutch antitrust regulators have levied a new 5 million euro ($5.6 million) fine against Apple over an order to open up app payments for dating services.
The tech giant’s new payment terms for data apps are “unreasonable and create an additional barrier,” the Netherlands Authority for Consumers and Markets (ACM) said in a statement on Monday (Feb. 14), noting Apple “still does not meet the requirements.”
Apple has been fined four times by the ACM following an order in December requiring the iPhone maker to open payment options up for dating app providers in Holland, bringing Apple’s total fines in the country to 20 million euros. Dutch law allows the ACM to fine Apple up to 50 million euros (or $57 million).
Read more: Apple Fined up to $57M by Dutch Regulators for Skirting Payment System Rules
This latest fine comes days after another $5.7 million fine imposed by the ACM, which had ordered Apple to let dating app developers and owners provide other payment systems either next to, or instead of, Apple’s payment system, by Jan. 15. Apple promised to comply, then vowed to appeal on the day of ACM’s deadline.
The company has been in trouble with regulators in many countries due to its policy of steering users toward its own payment method at the expense of competitors, leading to a number of lawsuits and antitrust investigations.
Apple charges commissions as high as 30% on some app subscriptions, although the tech giant reduced the fees for smaller developers last year. And earlier this month, the company said it would reduce that figure to 27% for Dutch dating apps.
Read more: Apple Lowers Rates for Dutch App Store Payments
However, the ACM said Monday Apple’s revised conditions still hurt dating app providers by making them develop a new app and submit it to the Apple App Store, forcing them to incur added costs and to spend time and effort informing users about the change.
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