Legal

EU slams Apple with €1.8 billion fine over music streaming competition

European Commission ruled the tech giant unfairly favoured its own music streaming service over rivals

The commission also has opened a separate antitrust investigation into Apple’s mobile payments service. Picture: Getty

The European Union has levelled its first antitrust penalty against Apple, fining the US tech giant nearly €1.8 billion for breaking the bloc’s competition laws by unfairly favouring its own music streaming service over rivals.

Apple banned app developers from “fully informing iOS users about alternative and cheaper music subscription services outside of the app”, said the European Commission, the 27-nation bloc’s executive arm and top antitrust enforcer.

That is illegal under EU antitrust rules. ...