If Cupertino was missing anything in Europe, it was that regulators have also put their electronic payment system, Apple Pay, in the spotlight. Another problem that adds to those already facing the company in Europe, both because of the Digital Markets Act, which could force the company to accept third-party payment systems and transactions on iOS, and because of the investigation that could result in the company’s fees for monopoly techniques performed with Apple Music.

And yet, to the detriment of society, it seems that Apple Pay could also be accused of restricting competition in the e-wallet market, according to the preliminary findings of a European Commission inquiry. At this point, the authority has sent its findings to Apple and is waiting for the company to analyze them and, if it deems it appropriate, to accept the necessary charges to defend Apple Pay against the charges.

The problem with Apple Pay, according to a study by the European Commission, is directly related to the service, although it is true that it is actually due to iOS, due to restrictions from Apple. your payment service is the only one that can use NFC terminal technology make payments with it, an option vetoed for any other payment system and platform that might otherwise offer payments through the iPhone’s touchless system.

for the European Commission Apple uses this restriction to enforce the use of Apple Pay on its devices., without its service being able to face competition from other services in order to have access to the NFC connectivity of the iPhone. In addition, something is happening at a time when this type of payment system is gaining strength, partly due to the organic pace of its acceptance by the user, but also largely due to the growing demand for contactless solutions due to coronavirus.

Competition Commissioner Margrethe Vestager said:We have indications that Apple has restricted third-party access to key technology needed to develop competing mobile wallet solutions on Apple devices. In our Statement of Objections, we preliminarily found that Apple may have restricted competition in favor of its own Apple Pay solution. If confirmed, such conduct would be illegal under our competition rules.“.

Although Apple obviously can defend itself, and it certainly does, the truth is that no other payment service can use NF connectivityC, so Apple Pay has exclusivity in this regard. It therefore seems unlikely that Apple would be able to present arguments that would convince the European Commission that it was wrong.