Brazil’s competition authority, CADE, demands Apple address technical and legal concerns over iPhone NFC access by March 30, amid allegations of anticompetitive practices in contactless payments.
Investigation Targets NFC Access Limits
The probe, initiated last year by Brazil’s central bank and banking group Febraban, examines whether Apple restricts third-party payment providers from using the iPhone’s NFC chip while favoring its own services like Apple Pay.
Apple maintains that Brazilian law allows it to charge fees for NFC access. The company notes its 10% share of the smartphone market, full NFC availability to third-party developers since 2024, and a competitive payments landscape where Apple Pay does not harm consumers or exclude rivals.
CADE Escalates with Formal Request
On Tuesday, CADE issued a formal notice requiring details on fees, technical specifications, and developer contracts in Brazil. Apple must respond by March 30.
Links to PIX Payment System
The inquiry intersects with PIX, Brazil’s dominant free instant payment system launched in 2020. Last year, the central bank introduced a contactless PIX protocol, which Google adopted but Apple rejected, citing reliance on QR codes over NFC taps.
Apple also seeks to avoid designation as a Payment Transaction Initiator, a central bank-regulated category mandating interoperability and access obligations.
Apple has not yet commented on the latest CADE request.
