EU Orders Apple to End Geo-Blocking on App Store and Media Services

The European Commission flagged potential geo-blocking violations on Apple services and warned of possible enforcement by national regulators.

Brussels: The European Union has directed Apple to cease geo-blocking practices—restricting content access based on a user’s geographical location—across multiple services, including the App Store, Apple Arcade, Apple Music, iTunes Store, Books, and Podcasts.

The European Commission cited several instances of potential geo-blocking violations on Apple Media Services and warned that failure to comply could lead to enforcement actions by national regulators.

“We are stepping up the fight against geo-blocking. No company, big or small, should unjustly discriminate customers based on their nationality, place of residence or place of establishment,” stated European Commissioner Margrethe Vestager, emphasizing the EU’s commitment to a fair digital marketplace.

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Apple has been given a one-month window to present proposals on how it plans to address the identified geo-blocking practices.

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