Apple Opens Brazilian App Stores to Rivals

Apple has reached an agreement with Brazil's antitrust regulator, CADE, to permit third-party app stores on its iOS operating system within the country. This decision comes after a three-year investigation into alleged anti-competitive practices by the tech giant.

The agreement mandates that Apple must also enable alternative payment processing methods for in-app purchases, including links to external websites. While Apple stated these changes will introduce privacy and security risks, it has committed to implementing them within 105 days. The probe was initiated following a complaint from MercadoLibre in 2022.

This settlement is set to last for three years, commencing once the new terms become mandatory for app developers. Apple faces a penalty of up to 150 million reais if it breaches the agreement. MercadoLibre acknowledged CADE's efforts but stated the agreement only partially resolves the need for more balanced rules on the iOS platform.