On 2 May 2022, the European Commission issued a Statement of Objections on the Apple and its practices regarding Apple Pay.[1] The Statement includes the Commission’s preliminary view on whether Apple is abusing its dominant market position for mobile wallets on iOS devices.

The Statement of Objections confirms that Apple does indeed have a dominant market position in this respect. Because Apple only has access to the necessary NFC ‘tap and go’ technology for mobile wallets on iOS mobile devices they are limiting other competition. The result is less innovation and fewer choices in mobile wallets for consumers.

This Statement of Objections does not prejudge the outcome of the investigation into Apple’s practices regarding Apple Pay the Commission started on 16 June 2020.

[1] EC press release of 2 May 2022: ‘Antitrust: Commission sends Statement of Objections to Apple over practices regarding Apple Pay’.