Brasília: Apple has been directed by a Brazilian federal judge to allow third-party app stores and sideloading on iOS devices in Brazil within ninety days or face daily fines surpassing $40,000. Judge Pablo Zuniga of the Federal Regional Court issues a verdict restoring an earlier injunction by Brazil’s antitrust body, CADE (Administrative Council for Economic Defense).
The lawsuit results from a 2022 complaint made by Latin American e-commerce behemoth Mercado Livre, which claimed Apple was exploiting its payment system for digital transactions, therefore violating its market dominance. Judge Zuniga cited Apple’s adherence to comparable laws across other nations, notably the European Union, where the behemoth unveiled alternate app store access under the Digital Markets Act with iOS 17.4.
Apple has declared intentions to challenge the ruling, contending that CADE’s suggested policies could undermine user security and privacy. The decision, however, represents a major regulatory challenge to Apple’s closed environment and might open the path for such proceedings in other regions. Should it be maintained, Brazil will rank second among all the countries in enforcing iOS app distribution changes following the EU.
