Apple has responded to recent viral claims about new warning labels appearing on App Store listings in the EU that use third-party payment systems, clarifying that these notices are not new.

Figure 1. Apple’s EU Payment Warnings Spark Outrage — But There’s More to the Story.

Reports had circulated that Apple added a red exclamation mark and cautionary text to apps that don't use its own “private and secure payment system.” These warnings were perceived by some as an attempt to deter users from engaging with external payment methods — something now allowed under the EU's Digital Markets Act (DMA). Figure 1 shows Apple’s EU Payment Warnings Spark Outrage — But There’s More to the Story.

However, Apple confirmed to TechCrunch that these disclosure screens have been part of its EU App Store experience since March 2024, when it rolled out its DMA Compliance Plan. Contrary to speculation, the labels weren’t introduced recently.

Concerns flared following Apple’s recent court loss to Fortnite maker Epic Games, which resulted in a U.S. ruling that forces Apple to allow developers to direct users to alternative payment options without paying Apple’s standard commission. Apple is appealing that decision, and some assumed the EU warnings were a retaliatory move signaling resistance to revenue changes.

But since the warnings have been in place for months, that theory doesn’t hold. The uproar appears to have started with a single post that went viral on X (formerly Twitter) this week, showing an App Store listing for the EU-based app Instacar. The screenshot displayed the now-controversial message:

“[T]his app does not support the App Store’s private and secure payment system. It uses external purchases.”

“This is the first time I’m seeing this,” posted X user Viktor Maric, referring to the warning screen. “Apple will punish the apps with external payment system [sic],” he added.

Maric’s post quickly gained traction, receiving thousands of likes and hundreds of reposts — many from members of the mobile developer community. The reaction was overwhelmingly critical, with users labeling the message as “malicious compliance” and accusing Apple of acting “entitled.”

Apple pointed to a reply on X from RevenueCat CEO Jacob Eiting, who directly responded to Maric’s post. Eiting clarified that the disclosure screens are limited to the EU and “have been around for a while.”

Eiting suggested that the warnings are only now drawing attention because relatively few EU developers have opted to implement external payment systems under the Digital Markets Act (DMA). Critics argue that Apple’s DMA Compliance Plan is intentionally convoluted and packed with so-called “junk fees” — charges they believe are designed to offset the loss of commission from in-app purchases.

In its statement to TechCrunch, Apple also acknowledged that it had planned to revise the warning message following initial criticism. Back in August 2024, the company announced a series of updates to its DMA compliance strategy, including a reworded user disclosure screen. Rather than implying a security risk, the updated message would take a more neutral tone:

According to Apple, the European Commission (EC) did not object to the revised message but advised the company to pause implementation. In the absence of further direction, Apple chose to leave the original disclosure screen unchanged.

Source: TC

Cite this article:

Priyadharshini S (2025), Viral Outrage Over Apple’s EU Payment Alerts Overlooks Crucial Detail, AnaTechMaz, pp. 248