Apple has announced that it has once again updated its rules on how Dutch dating apps use third-party payment systems after the company had fruitful talks with the Dutch Consumer and Markets Authority.
The updated rules give developers more flexibility about the payment systems they use, change the language users see when they go to check out, and remove other restrictions put in place by previous rules.
Although the rules are not extensive (applicable to Dutch dating apps only). But the rules show what Apple could do to comply with government regulations - which it could face frequently as the European Union and the United States prepare to fight tech monopolies.
In December, the Dutch Consumer and Markets Authority announced a ruling that Apple must allow dating apps to use payment services in addition to those built into iOS.
Since then, Apple has proposed a variety of solutions to comply with the order, which the regulator said were not appropriate.
The Dutch Consumer and Markets Authority said in May: "Apple's latest rules represent improvements over previous ideas." But it still does not comply with Dutch and European laws.
Apple allows more payment options for app developers
There has been increasing pressure on the company to comply. Even as she worked on the changes, she had accrued tens of millions of euros in fines.
The changes announced by the company are an important update to its previous proposal, which it published in March. The rules still make developers show users a message before they see a third-party payment screen, which can be either in the app or via an external website. But the proposed new language is less likely to frighten potential customers.
The options that users see in the message are also different. Before that, they saw the follow or cancel buttons. But it has now been replaced with a button that says I understand.
Under the new rules, developers also won't have to choose between in-app payment via a third party or an external payment link. They can use both if they want, which was not the case before. They are also able to show the cost of something.
The rules also set out the reliability of the payment processor, saying that it must be 99.9% available and respond to requests within 300 milliseconds.
Apple still has some requirements for third-party payment processors. But it appears to be significantly broader in scope.
The company said it was not happy with the current situation. "As we are committed to constructive engagement with regulators, we are making additional changes at the request of the Dutch Consumer and Markets Authority," she said.
But the company does not believe that some of the changes are in the interest of its users' privacy or data security. The Company also reiterates that it does not agree with the original order and is appealing it.