Apple appeals Brazilian regulator’s decision requiring sideloading in iOS

As we recently reported, the Brazilian antitrust regulator known as “Cade” recently ruled that Apple can no longer prevent developers from selling content and distributing apps outside the App Store in Brazil. Unsurprisingly, Apple is now appealing the decision which the company considers “disproportionate.”

Apple says Brazilian regulator’s decision ‘threatens’ iOS users

As reported by TeleSíntese (via MacMagazine), Apple filed an appeal with the Brazilian regulator on Thursday against the filing of a lawsuit accusing the App Store of having anti-steering rules, which are considered illegal in Brazil. Cade ruled on November 26 that Apple would have 20 days to comply with antitrust legislation, otherwise it would be fined R$250,000 (US$42,000) per day.

In theory, Apple would have to implement changes similar to those it already made in the European Union earlier this year, which include allowing App Marketplaces as alternatives to the App Store. In response, Apple said that the Brazilian regulator’s decision “drastically threatens” users’ privacy and security and called it “arbitrary.”

Apple also said that it would be impossible to comply with the order within the 20-day deadline set by the regulator and said that the ruling “is not urgent in any way” given that the App Store’s business model has been the same since 2008. The company argues that it would need more time to “implement complex technical changes” in iOS to enable sideloading in Brazil.

The Brazilian regulator has yet to decide whether to grant Apple’s appeal. Interestingly, Cade’s investigation began after Latin American e-commerce giant Mercado Libre accused Apple of forcing developers offering digital goods or services in their apps to use Apple’s own payment system.

In June, Japan also passed a new law forcing Apple to allow App Marketplaces for iOS users in the country. However, the company has not made any announcements about when this will happen. For now, the EU remains the only region where Apple has made major changes to how iOS and the App Store work.

On a related note, Brazil’s Cade is also investigating Google for similar anti-competitive practices on Android.

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