The European Union (EU) has directed Apple to cease geo-blocking practices on its digital services, which restrict content access based on a user’s location.
This includes services like the App Store, Apple Arcade, Music, iTunes Store, Books, and Podcasts. The European Commission, after identifying several potentially prohibited geo-blocking practices, warned that national regulators might take enforcement action if Apple does not resolve the issues.
“We are stepping up the fight against geo-blocking. No company should discriminate customers based on their nationality, place of residence or place of establishment,” Margrethe Vestager, European Commissioner, said.
The EU has given Apple one month to propose steps to address these geo-blocking concerns.
