Apple Slaps Warnings on Apps Using External Purchases in the EU [Updated]

[MacRumors]

Update: According to Apple, the user-disclosure screens have been live on the EU App Store since the beginning of Apple’s DMA Compliance Plan back in March 2024. The screen is not new. Original story follows.



Apple has begun placing prominent warning labels on EU App Store listings that use alternative payment methods. The warning symbols appear as a red exclamation mark in a triangle, accompanied by text stating that the app "does not support the App Store's private and secure payment system" and "uses external purchases."

As noted by Michael Tsai, Apple is using its highest-level "critical" alert iconography – the same triangle symbol that macOS reserves for situations that might result in "unexpected loss of data."

Instacar, a popular Hungarian car valuation app with thousands of positive reviews, appears to be among the first to receive this treatment.

Apple's use of the warning labels comes just weeks after the European Commission fined Apple €500 million for violating the Digital Markets Act by restricting developers from informing users about alternative payment options. The Commission ordered Apple to "remove the technical and commercial restrictions on steering."

https://twitter.com/x/status/1922006170601939221

The warning labels also follow a contempt order issued by Judge Yvonne Gonzalez Rogers on April 30, barring Apple from enforcing App Store rules that prevented developers from directing users to external payment methods.

Article Link: Apple Slaps Warnings on Apps Using External Purchases in the EU [Updated]

 

[germanbeer007]

Good. Consumers deserve to know whether or not the app they're downloading is going to be insecure and/or frustrating to use. Epic deserves this.

Anyone who is against this is clearly not being objective. This is pro-consumer.


EDIT: Love how people downvoting are in favor of less knowledge about what apps they purchase.

 

[aj8690]

Oooh the EU will have something to say about this.

 

[mjschabow]

Such a bitter, immature thing to do.

 

[germanbeer007]

Oooh the EU will have something to say about this.

sure, but before you can read about what they said, please allow cookies.

 

[surferfb]

While I support this, I strongly suspect the EU is not going to be happy.

If apps get to freeload on the trust and infrastructure of the App Store without compensating Apple then Apple should be able to warn consumers that is the case.

 

[PolarBear37]

Warning: This product is harmful to Apple's profits. Use at Tim's risk.

 

[Nimrad]

Is this only for apps that doesn’t support apples system or those that offer both?

 

[cicalinarrot]

Good. Consumers deserve to know whether or not the app they're downloading is going to be insecure and/or frustrating to use. Epic deserves this.

Anyone who is against this is clearly not being objective. This is pro-consumer.

This is laughable.
Apple has been trying to stop competition forever by making its phones non-repairable or non-upgradable with all the tricks in the book. Then, when forced by the law, they still try to scare consumers out of it.
A simple disclaimer would have been ok. We've been using non "apple verified" (or whatever) apps on Macs and it's been a great experience.
Apple just wants that sweet sweet money.
Definitive proof? They allowed third party stores (again, when forced) but still tried to put some clause that forced the biggest developers to give them money. Absolutely illegal, 100% for money, 0% for consumer safety.
Don't get fooled by these people.

 

[Baslea]

While I support this, I strongly suspect the EU is not going to be happy.

If apps get to freeload on the trust and infrastructure of the App Store without compensating Apple then Apple should be able to warn consumers that is the case.

Now it's getting ridiculous. Why should it be more "dangerous" on buying a subscription at the website of the manufacturer? That's typical US dumb minded stuff.

 

[obamtl]

It’s important that users know they are making payments outside of the iPhone, but using this kind of pattern could backfire eeventually (assuming the EU doesn’t step in and force a reversal). If users start thinking that Apple is using these types of warnings to scare them from doing things that they don’t consider to be scary, some could start to ignore Apple’s warnings, making them less safe.

 

[scrapesleon]

just like that no one want to do external purchases game is game apple

 

[Small White Car]

Good. Consumers deserve to know whether or not the app they're downloading is going to be insecure and/or frustrating to use. Epic deserves this.

Anyone who is against this is clearly not being objective. This is pro-consumer.

Should Apple pop this message up when you buy a stapler from the Amazon app?

And should it pop up when you buy it from Amazon in Safari on the Mac too?

Are these things missing from your iOS experience?

 

[germanbeer007]

This is laughable.
Apple has been trying to stop competition forever by making its phones non-repairable or non-upgradable with all the tricks in the book. Then, when forced by the law, they still try to scare consumers out of it.

Completely irrelevant to the current discussion. Consumer deserves to know BEFORE they buy the app that the app will not use Apple's built in IAP to make purchases for digital goods.

A simple disclaimer would have been ok.

It is a simple disclaimer. Anyone who thinks this is overly cautious clearly isn't being objective.

Apple just wants that sweet sweet money.

Which doesn't make sense considering an app not using IAP will not earn Apple money either way. So this argument is moot. Laughable.

 

[dominiongamma]

Good. Consumers deserve to know whether or not the app they're downloading is going to be insecure and/or frustrating to use. Epic deserves this.

Anyone who is against this is clearly not being objective. This is pro-consumer.

It sounds like you are anti-consumer

 

[macdaddy43]

What is the difference between me downloading external apps on my Mac vs on my iPhone? Why would I get a gigantic warning of death on my iPhone for downloading the same app I downloaded on my Mac, but not on the Mac? Logically speaking, this doesn’t make any sense.

If I can download Spotify externally from my Mac without issue or warnings my identity eill be stolen, why is there all of a sudden such a big fuss on iPhone?

 

[germanbeer007]

It sounds like you are anti-consumer

For knowing before I buy an app that the app may use insecure methods to handle payments? COMEDY.

 

[surferfb]

Now it's getting ridiculous. Why should it be more "dangerous" on buying a subscription at the website of the manufacturer? That's typical US dumb minded stuff.

The App Store has only worked one way for 20 years, and customers are used to that. Customers lose a lot of features when apps don’t go through the App Store’s payment processing, and should be aware.

Consumers should absolutely be informed. Most consumers are not up to date on what’s going on like MacRumors readers. They think “it’s in the App Store so Apple has my back”.

 

[Pitogyro]

What a ridiculous, vicious company they have become.

 

[cicalinarrot]

Completely irrelevant.

We know how Apple operates, it's not irrelevant. They only do these things for money. Then, you're free to cover your ears and your eyes and scream "lalalalala I can't hear you". Have fun.

It is a simple disclaimer. Anyone who thinks this is overly cautious clearly isn't being objective.

With a red danger sign.
Now... do you also want that on every single website where you can make payments on you iPhone's browser? Because that's what you're implying, if you want to be even slightly consistent and not just making rules as you go to defend Apple's choice. Right?

 

[Lwii2boo]

Good. Consumers deserve to know whether or not the app they're downloading is going to be insecure and/or frustrating to use. Epic deserves this.

Anyone who is against this is clearly not being objective. This is pro-consumer.

Ignoring there is a monopoly + 30% tax with Apple Store is just wrong.
Don't get me wrong I am not an Epic fan at all but they raised some good points about the huge commision rate

While I agree the apple route allows an easy and seemless experience for average consumer, 30% is huge and you can't expect third-party companies to accept it for ever. Imagine if Microsoft took 30% on all your software purchases on any Windows PC with zero alternative for any other store... Let's be real 2sec...

You need to consider the three parties in the long run to have a relevant view on this. It's a bit more complex than just the good Apple who cares about consumers' privacy (surely the 30% cut with infinite %margin is not the main reason, it's only about "privacy" "safety" "courage" /s) and the evil Epic

 

[nortonandreev]

Really, Apple? Such a bs...

 

[j26]

If there is to be a warning it should be of the same scale that warns you of in-app purchases. That warning there is total overkill.

Then Apple has done its due diligence, and if someone is scammed then Apple has no liability.

 

[macdaddy43]

On top of that, if an app like Spotify was such a security risk from a payment perspective, why wouldn’t Apple have already blocked the app from being allowed in the App Store?

People have already been making external payments on these apps for years, now Apple all of a sudden puts a big warning on the app acting like it’s going to steal your identity? If it was such a risk, Apple should have removed apps like Spotify years ago from the App Store.

The only difference now is that they are allowed to use links in the app. Before they couldn’t. Now all of a sudden it’s not secure because they have a link in the app, taking to the same place you managed the service for years.

This is cringe coming from a multi-TRILLION dollar company. Doing everything they can to make sure they Hoover up every penny they can.

 

[DEMinSoCAL]

While I support this, I strongly suspect the EU is not going to be happy.

If apps get to freeload on the trust and infrastructure of the App Store without compensating Apple then Apple should be able to warn consumers that is the case.

Freeload? Isn't it Apple's own rules that force developers to put their apps in Apple's App Store? You clearly aren't a supporter of a competitive marketplace. You get a choice where you buy your groceries -- would you shop at a store whose prices are 30% higher because their checkout system is "more secure" than others, especially when the others are already secure?

People think checking out through another system (which EVERYONE does all the time online) is somehow going to have rampant fraud so they've created a boogeyman to scare everyone into thinking if you pay, say, with PayPal in an app instead of through Apple's payment system that somehow your information will be stolen. It's ridiculous.