Brazil: General Superintendence of the Administrative Council for Economic Defence recommended conviction against Apple for alleged anticompetitive conduct in iOS ecosystem

On 30 June 2025, the General Superintendence of the Administrative Council for Economic Defence (SG/CADE) recommended the conviction of Apple for anticompetitive conduct in the digital ecosystem of the iOS operating system, following an investigation initiated in 2022 in response to a complaint filed by Ebazar and Mercado Livre. The investigation found that Apple imposed abusive commercial practices, including the mandatory use of its proprietary payment system for digital goods and services and restrictions on the distribution and marketing of third-party digital services. SG/CADE concluded that these practices constituted artificial barriers to market entry, preserved Apple’s dominant position, and limited competitive alternatives for developers and users. The recommendation included the application of a financial penalty and the adoption of behavioural remedies, such as the cessation of the identified practices and the implementation of corrective measures to mitigate their anticompetitive effects. The case was forwarded to the Tribunal of CADE and assigned to a Reporting Commissioner for adjudication, which will determine whether the conduct violates the economic order under Law No. 12.529/2011.