The European Union (EU) has instructed Apple to halt geo-blocking practices across its services, including App Store, Apple Arcade, Music, iTunes Store, Books, and Podcasts. Geo-blocking limits content availability based on users' geographical location, restricting access to specific services or content.
The European Commission has identified multiple cases of geo-blocking in Apple's media services, giving the company a one-month deadline to address the issue. If Apple fails to take corrective action, enforcement measures by national regulators within the EU could follow.
European Commissioner Margrethe Vestager emphasized the EU’s commitment to ending geo-blocking, saying that "no company, big or small, should unjustly discriminate against customers based on nationality or location." This step is part of a broader EU effort to eliminate unjustified geo-blocking, ensuring that consumers across the EU have equal access to digital services regardless of location.
Previously, Apple has employed region-specific restrictions across its platforms, limiting certain features or content to specific countries. The EU’s directive challenges such practices, promoting a more unified digital marketplace across Europe.
Apple is now expected to review its geo-blocking policies and work with EU regulators to comply. Failure to act could trigger enforcement actions by national authorities within the EU, further emphasizing the EU's commitment to a fair and accessible digital market for all European consumers.
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