€50 Million Penalty on Hold: Dutch Regulator Delays Ruling on Apple’s Non-Compliance with Dating App Fee Rules

The Dutch competition watchdog has decided not to move forward for now on its ruling about Apple’s fees for dating apps. This update was officially announced on Thursday, July 25, 2025, as the Authority for Consumers and Markets (ACM) confirmed it would postpone the decision while awaiting further developments from the European Commission.

Back in 2021, the ACM told Apple to allow dating apps to use other payment systems, not just Apple’s in-app purchase method. In response, Apple introduced a 27% fee for external payments, barely lower than its standard 30% which led to criticism and a €50 million penalty for what the ACM saw as non-compliance. This move was originally covered in Investing.com, which highlighted the growing tension between the tech giant and the Dutch regulator.

Now, the situation has shifted to the EU level. In March 2024, the European Commission launched a broader investigation into Apple under the new Digital Markets Act (DMA), which aims to keep powerful tech companies from controlling key parts of the digital economy.

Because the DMA ruling could override local cases, the ACM is holding back. “We expect the DMA to bring clarity,” the Dutch regulator said, indicating that the European ruling may make a separate Dutch decision unnecessary.

Apple hasn’t issued any public response to the latest Dutch delay but is still engaged in legal battles over earlier enforcement.

The spotlight now turns to Brussels, where the first major tests of the DMA are underway, potentially reshaping how Apple and other tech giants operate across Europe.