Apple now faces fresh pressure in Brazil as regulators push forward with an antitrust probe focused on how the company manages NFC access on the iPhone, especially for contactless payments, and the company must respond to detailed questions before the end of March.
The investigation centers on whether Apple restricts third-party payment providers while giving its own services an advantage, and regulators want clarity on fees, technical requirements, and developer agreements tied to NFC usage on iPhones in Brazil.
According to Folha de S. Paulo, Brazil’s competition authority CADE has formally asked Apple to provide information and set a deadline, stating that the company has until March 30 to respond to the request covering its payment ecosystem practices.
The case began after Banco Central and banking group Febraban raised concerns that Apple limits fair access to NFC technology, which plays a key role in contactless payments, and regulators now want to understand how Apple structures access and pricing for developers.
Apple has defended its position, stating that there is “nothing in Brazilian law that prevents [it] from charging a fee for its services,” while also noting that it holds only a small share of the smartphone market in Brazil.
The probe also connects to PIX, Brazil’s widely used instant payment system, where Apple has not adopted the newer contactless standard, and the company appears to resist being classified under stricter financial regulations that would require broader interoperability.
Apple has not yet responded publicly to CADE’s latest notice.
