Recent uproar over Apple’s warning messages on the EU App Store appears to be based on a misunderstanding, as the tech giant clarified the messages are not new.
According to various viral posts and media coverage, Apple allegedly added a red exclamation mark warning next to apps that don’t use its in-house payment system, discouraging users from choosing third-party payment options. This sparked criticism, with many seeing it as a move to undermine the Digital Markets Act (DMA)—a new EU law that allows developers to bypass Apple’s payment system and its commission fees.
However, Apple confirmed to TechCrunch that these warning screens have been in place since March 2024, as part of the company’s DMA Compliance Plan. They were not recently introduced, as many believed.
The backlash comes on the heels of Apple’s major court loss to Epic Games in the U.S., where the company was ordered to allow third-party payment links in iOS apps. Apple is currently appealing that decision, and some speculated that the EU warnings were a subtle form of retaliation.
But since the warnings are not new, it seems the public reaction may have been sparked by a single post that went viral on X (formerly Twitter). The post showed an EU App Store listing for an app called Instacar, which included the message:
“This app does not support the App Store’s private and secure payment system. It uses external purchases.”
This alert also includes a link that users can tap to learn more about the potential risks of using external payment systems.
While the language may appear cautionary, Apple argues the notice is part of a transparent disclosure process to ensure users are aware when they’re stepping outside Apple’s trusted payment ecosystem.
As debates over digital market regulation continue, Trendotech will keep tracking how Apple—and the industry—responds to the shifting legal landscape.
