Apple given 90 days to open iOS to alternative app stores in Brazil

Brazilian authorities have ordered Apple to allow third-party iPhone app stores to operate in the country within 90 days. The company was previously forced to do so for users in Europe, where the Digital Markets Act (DMA) came into force.

The judge who issued the ruling noted that “Apple has already complied with similar requirements in other countries without demonstrating a significant impact on or irreparable harm to its economic model.” Brazilian authorities initiated an investigation into Apple based on a complaint filed in 2022 by South American marketplace Mercado Livre. In November, the company was given 20 days to allow developers to offer alternative payment options in apps and allow installation of software from third-party sources, but the requirement was withdrawn in early December.

Apple plans to appeal the new court ruling. “Apple believes in dynamic and competitive markets where innovation can thrive. We face competition in every segment and jurisdiction where we operate, and the trust of our users is always important to us. We are concerned that the temporary measures proposed by [Brazil’s Administrative Council for Economic Defense] CADE will undermine the privacy and security of our users, and we intend to appeal the decision,” company spokesman Fred Sainz told The Verge.