{"id":64333,"date":"2026-02-20T03:50:57","date_gmt":"2026-02-20T02:50:57","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.apfelpatient.de\/?p=64333"},"modified":"2026-02-20T03:53:35","modified_gmt":"2026-02-20T02:53:35","slug":"apple-and-the-fight-over-nfc-fees-in-brazil","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.apfelpatient.de\/en\/news\/apple-und-der-kampf-um-nfc-gebuehren-in-brasilien","title":{"rendered":"Apple and the battle over NFC fees in Brazil"},"content":{"rendered":"

Apple is repeatedly clashing with regulators worldwide over whether the company should be allowed to charge fees for access to key iPhone features and platforms. The latest point of contention has emerged in Brazil: the iPhone's NFC payment function. Banks and payment providers there are demanding that access be made free. Apple is resisting, calling it an attempt to share proprietary technology for free.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

The discussion is not new in Brazil. The Council for Economic Protection (CADE) has already pursued action against Apple for antitrust allegations surrounding the App Store. This led to measures in Brazil, including the introduction of alternative app stores and external payment methods. Now the focus is shifting: the App Store is no longer the central issue, but rather Apple's rules for NFC payments on the iPhone.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

This time it's about: NFC payments on the iPhone<\/h4>\n\n\n\n

The trigger was a report by O Globo<\/a>, which was later picked up by 9to5Mac<\/a>. In it, Apple describes how third parties, such as banks and payment service providers, want \"free\" access to Apple's proprietary technologies. This refers to the NFC payment platform that enables the iPhone to make contactless payments.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The background: In Brazil, the market is currently moving towards NFC. Services like Pix want to move away from purely QR code payments and rely more heavily on NFC. This is already easier on Android because Google has approved the technology for Android smartphones. This approach has not yet gained the same traction on the iPhone.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Why Pix and banks are putting on the pressure<\/h4>\n\n\n\n

The central issue is Apple's fee model: Apple charges payment processors and banks a fee for each transaction if they want access to iPhone NFC functionality. CADE and several banks criticize this as potentially anti-competitive.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

From their perspective, it appears that Apple is controlling a key technology and making its use more expensive for competitors. This is particularly relevant for Pix, because while the service wants to switch to NFC, it doesn't want to pay for access.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Apple's response: a familiar argument, this time with a focus on Brazil<\/h4>\n\n\n\n

Apple counters with an argument familiar from similar debates, but at least it is structured in a comprehensible way:<\/p>\n\n\n\n