With Apple fight ongoing, Dutch watchdog ACM to investigate Google Play store practices

The Netherlands Authority for Consumers and Markets announced on Wednesday a preliminary investigation into Alphabet Inc's Google for possible anti-competitive practices in its Play store. "Dating-app providers allegedly are no longer able to use a payment system other than Google's payment system," ACM spokesperson Murco Mijnlieff said in an email. In a response, a Google spokesperson said the company charges customers 15% commissions for subscriptions via Google Play, which it said was "the lowest rate among major app platforms." The Dutch ACM remains locked in a two-year fight with Google competitor Apple over alternative means of payment for dating apps on the App Store. Apple has received 50 million euros in fines -- the maximum possible under a current court decision -- for failure to comply with an ACM order to make it possible for dating app developers to offer customers non-Apple payment methods.