Following an investigation, the European Commission found that Apple’s media services—such as the App Store, Apple Music, and Apple TV+—are “illegally discriminating against European consumers based on their place of residence.” Apple has been warned to engage in discussions with the authorities; otherwise, they will be compelled to negotiate.
The main complaint is that Apple services are tightly linked to the country where the account was registered. For instance, app interfaces vary by country, and an EU resident can only access the interface specific to the country in which their account was created. Additionally, users cannot make purchases using cards from other countries; they must use a card from the country where the account was registered. Apps available in other EU countries are also inaccessible.
Given the high mobility within Europe, where people frequently move, travel, and operate within a single legal framework, these complaints are indeed quite reasonable.
