Apple Eliminates Separate Binary Requirement for Dutch Dating Apps Accepting Alternative Payments

Apple today announced that developers of dating apps on the App Store in the Netherlands that use an alternative payments system no longer need to create and use a separate binary. This change allows these developers to accept alternative payments in their existing dating apps, but only in the Netherlands and on devices running iOS or iPadOS.

iOS App Store General Feature Sqaure Complement
Apple also announced two other changes that apply to dating apps accepting alternative payments in the Netherlands:

- Payment Service Provider Criteria: Apple is providing updated and more-specific criteria to evaluate non-Apple payment service providers that developers of dating apps in the Netherlands may use.

- Consumer Disclosures: Apps that use either entitlement need to include an in-app modal sheet that explains to users that they're going to make purchases through an external payment system, and the potential impact that choice could have on the user. Apple is adjusting the language on the modal sheet and reducing the number of times the sheet must be displayed.

In December 2021, the Netherlands' Authority for Consumers and Markets (ACM) announced that Apple must let dating apps offer payment methods other than Apple's in-app purchase system in the App Store in the Netherlands, or else it would face fines. Apple proceeded to allow Dutch dating apps to use special entitlements that allow for alternative payments, but required developers to submit a separate app binary to do so.

In response, the ACM said that Apple had failed to satisfy the conditions of its order. Apple has incurred a fine of €5 million per week ever since, with the fines now totalling €50 million, and the ACM said the fines could potentially go even higher.

As part of its announcement today, Apple reiterated that it disagrees with the order and is appealing it. In the meantime, Apple said it believes that the changes announced today demonstrate the company's ongoing commitment to fulfill its legal obligations in the Netherlands. It is now up to the ACM to decide whether Apple's changes bring it into compliance with the order, but the ACM has yet to publicly announce its decision.

Popular Stories

maxresdefault

Five Features Coming to AirPods Pro 3

Friday June 27, 2025 10:52 am PDT by
Apple hasn't updated the AirPods Pro since 2022, and the earbuds are due for a refresh. We're counting on a new model this year, and we've seen several hints of new AirPods tucked away in Apple's code. Rumors suggest that Apple has some exciting new features planned that will make it worthwhile to upgrade to the latest model. Subscribe to the MacRumors YouTube channel for more videos. Heal...
iPhone Car Key WWDC 2025

Apple Announces 13 Automakers Planning to Offer iPhone Car Keys

Friday June 27, 2025 11:42 am PDT by
In 2020, Apple added a digital car key feature to its Wallet app, allowing users to lock, unlock, and start a compatible vehicle with an iPhone or Apple Watch. The feature is currently offered by select automakers, including Audi, BMW, Hyundai, Kia, Genesis, Mercedes-Benz, Volvo, and a handful of others, and it is set to expand further. During its WWDC 2025 keynote, Apple said that 13...
anker power bank recall

PSA: Anker Recalls Multiple Power Banks Due to Fire Risk

Friday June 27, 2025 4:16 pm PDT by
Popular accessory maker Anker this month launched two separate recalls for its power banks, some of which may be a fire risk. The first recall affects Anker PowerCore 10000 Power Banks sold between June 1, 2016 and December 31, 2022 in the United States. Anker says that these power banks have a "potential issue" with the battery inside, which can lead to overheating, melting of plastic...
Chase Sapphire Reserve Apple Perk Feature

Chase Sapphire Reserve Card Introduces New Perk for Apple Customers

Wednesday June 25, 2025 2:08 pm PDT by
Chase this week announced a series of new perks for its premium Sapphire Reserve credit card, and one of them is for a pair of Apple services. Specifically, the credit card now offers complimentary annual subscriptions to Apple TV+ and Apple Music, a value of up to $250 per year. If you are already paying for Apple TV+ and/or Apple Music directly through Apple, those subscriptions will...
iPhone 17 Pro Blue Feature Tighter Crop

iPhone 17 Pro Launching in a Few Months With These 12 New Features

Thursday June 26, 2025 2:00 am PDT by
Apple's next-generation iPhone 17 Pro and iPhone 17 Pro Max are around three months away, and there are plenty of rumors about the devices. Apple is expected to launch the iPhone 17, iPhone 17 Air, iPhone 17 Pro, and iPhone 17 Pro Max in September this year. Below, we recap key changes rumored for the iPhone 17 Pro models:Aluminum frame: iPhone 17 Pro models are rumored to have an...
A18 Pro Chip

New MacBook With A18 Pro Chip Spotted in Apple Code

Monday June 30, 2025 8:05 am PDT by
Apple is developing a MacBook with the A18 Pro chip, according to findings in backend code uncovered by MacRumors. Earlier today, Apple analyst Ming-Chi Kuo reported that Apple is planning to launch a low-cost MacBook powered by an iPhone chip. The machine is expected to feature a 13-inch display, the A18 Pro chip, and color options that include silver, blue, pink, and yellow. MacRumors...
macbook air spacegray purple

Apple Planning to Launch Low-Cost MacBook Powered By iPhone Chip

Monday June 30, 2025 3:20 am PDT by
Apple is planning to launch a low-cost MacBook powered by an iPhone chip, according to Apple analyst Ming-Chi Kuo. In an article published on X, Kuo explained that the device will feature a 13-inch display and the A18 Pro chip, making it the first Mac powered by an iPhone chip. The A18 Pro chip debuted in the iPhone 16 Pro last year. To date, all Apple silicon Macs have contained M-series...
CarPlay Ultra Climate Controls

Here's Which Vehicle Brands Will and Won't Offer Apple's CarPlay Ultra

Friday June 27, 2025 9:52 am PDT by
Apple last month announced the launch of CarPlay Ultra, the long-awaited next-generation version of its CarPlay software system for vehicles. There was news this week about which automakers will and won't offer CarPlay Ultra, and we have provided an updated list below. CarPlay Ultra is currently limited to newer Aston Martin vehicles in the U.S. and Canada. Fortunately, if you cannot...
apple watch ultra 2 new black

Apple Watch Ultra 3 Finally Coming After Two-Year Hiatus

Tuesday June 24, 2025 3:40 am PDT by
Apple will finally deliver the Apple Watch Ultra 3 sometime this year, according to analyst Jeff Pu of GF Securities Hong Kong (via @jukanlosreve). The analyst expects both the Apple Watch Series 11 and Apple Watch Ultra 3 to arrive this year (likely alongside the new iPhone 17 lineup, if previous launches are anything to go by), according to his latest product roadmap shared with...

Top Rated Comments

Stromos Avatar
43 months ago
Amazing people applauding this as Globant just got announced as breached today. If this happened last year I bet a bunch of these would be using Globant built payment systems.

Sure install what you want give your info everywhere. The more you have out there the less chance of it being compromised! /s

Saving that imaginary 1.99 on that app (imaginary in that no company is going to lower prices they are just gonna pocket it) was really worth the emptied bank account.
Score: 15 Votes (Like | Disagree)
Chaos215bar2 Avatar
43 months ago

Amazing people applauding this as Globant just got announced as breached today. If this happened last year I bet a bunch of these would be using Globant built payment systems.

Sure install what you want give your info everywhere. The more you have out there the less chance of it being compromised! /s

Saving that imaginary 1.99 on that app (imaginary in that no company is going to lower prices they are just gonna pocket it) was really worth the emptied bank account.
Because obviously there's only one company in the entire world capable of securely handling payment processing. (And, you know, every time someone's payment information is compromised, they inevitably lose their entire life savings.)
Score: 10 Votes (Like | Disagree)
Stromos Avatar
43 months ago

Because obviously there's only one company in the entire world capable of securely handling payment processing. (And, you know, every time someone's payment information is compromised, they inevitably lose their entire life savings.)

You might have read today that Apple releases customer information to “hackers”
Both completely missing the concept of having your information in less places is more secure. Do I want to trust Apple or do I want to trust Apple, Amazon, Epic, Microsoft, Joe blow A, Joe blow B, Joe blow C.

If the whole thing is about these poor companies can't pay Apple their cut do you really think they are going to spend a ton of money standing up their own system? Or are they going to outsource to the lowest bidder that still can skid past a PCI audit?

Please continue to fight to pay for risk.

I honestly think it isn't about the 30% in the first place. It's that fact that they can't track you. They don't just want you to pay exactly what you are paying today they want you to pay and also give them all the personal information Apple anonymizes. They want you to have to deal with them directly for refunds and cancellations. They want you to "trust" them.

The best part is people will still blame Apple/iPhones when it hits the fan.
Score: 9 Votes (Like | Disagree)
GMShadow Avatar
43 months ago

Nice try, but I would charge Apple another 5million if the Apple Tax for alternative payment options is still alive.
Otherwise, next please. DMA please.
Why should greedy devs be allowed to sell stuff on the App Store for free?
Score: 8 Votes (Like | Disagree)
ct2k7 Avatar
43 months ago
I suppose that is a step in the right direction.
Score: 8 Votes (Like | Disagree)
vipergts2207 Avatar
43 months ago
Lol glad to see Apple caving. According to many folks here, Apple would just eat the “puny fines” or pull out of the Netherlands.
Score: 8 Votes (Like | Disagree)