Antitrust investigation launched into Apple

The Competition Board has decided to launch an antitrust investigation into Apple.

In an announcement on the Competition Authority's website, it was stated that the Authority has been conducting a 'Mobile Ecosystems Sector Inquiry' to understand the structure and functioning of the relevant sector regarding mobile smart devices and software for these devices, as well as to identify potential structural or behavioral competition issues in the sector.

The announcement noted that the contracts Apple signed with app developers and the App Review Guidelines were examined, and that suspicions had arisen that Apple imposed certain restrictions on app developers in the App Store regarding payment systems.

Emphasis on 'Need for Investigation'

Pointing out that developers are prevented from informing their users within the app about payment channels outside the app, it was stated that it is necessary to investigate whether this ban restricts consumers' access to better options (lower prices) because they are unaware of the existence of alternative payment channels and the price difference between in-app and out-of-app pricing.

'Emerging as a Suspicion'

The announcement, which stated that the inclusion of links within apps that direct users to alternative channels outside the app is also blocked, included the following statement: "In this regard, whether Apple eliminates the freedom of choice for app developers by mandating its own payment system and whether it prevents the entry of other payment systems into the Apple ecosystem also emerges as another suspicion that needs to be investigated."

It was reported that another restriction imposed by Apple on app developers regarding payment services is the mandatory use of Apple's own payment system for in-app purchases, and that transactions related to the sale of digital content within apps are required to be processed through Apple's payment system.

Decision to Investigate

The announcement, which stated that there is a need to investigate whether Apple eliminates the freedom of choice for app developers by mandating its own payment system and whether the entry of other payment systems into the Apple ecosystem is being blocked, concluded: "The Competition Board has decided to launch an investigation to determine whether Apple Inc. and Apple Teknoloji ve Satış Limited Şirketi have violated Article 6 of the Law on the Protection of Competition by not allowing the use of alternative payment systems in the App Store and by applying anti-steering provisions to mobile app developers."