Apple adds warning message for EU apps using non-Apple payment systems

Last month, the European Commission (EC) said Apple broke the rules of the Digital Markets Act (DMA). The main issue was that Apple was blocking app makers from letting users pay outside the App Store. This is called an “anti-steering” policy. It means users could not see or use other payment options. Apple is now appealing the €500 million fine from the EC. But at the same time, it has started doing something new that many users in the European Union (EU) have noticed.

New warning signs in the App Store

Apple has begun adding warning messages next to some apps in the EU App Store. These apps use third-party payment systems instead of Apple’s system. One example is Instacar, a Hungarian app that helps people check the history of used cars.

On the app, users can now see a red warning icon, and the message next to the icon says

“This app does not support the App Store’s private and secure payment system. It uses external purchases.”

The red icon means danger, unsafe or risky, and this is the message Apple is trying to pass. However, are these EU apps really risky?

If users tap on the warning, they are taken to a special Apple webpage. On that page, Apple talks about why it thinks outside payment systems can be unsafe. It says these systems may not meet Apple’s security standards. However, big names like PayPal, Stripe, and Square are widely trusted. These companies handle millions of payments every day and have strong security.

A way to scare users?

Some people believe that Apple’s new warning system is just a way to make apps that don’t use its payment system look bad. By adding scary-looking warnings, users might avoid these apps or not trust them.

This could go against the rules of the DMA again. The EC may now look into these new changes. Apple says it cares about user safety. But the warnings may hurt app makers who want to offer more payment choices. All eyes are now on how the EC will respond to Apple’s latest move. For now, users in the EU should know that non-Apple payments can still be safe, even if Apple says otherwise.