UPDATE 1-Apple hit with deterrent $2 bln EU antitrust fine in Spotify case

Apple was hit with a 1.84-billion-euro ($2 billion) EU antitrust fine of on Monday, its first ever and comprising mostly a deterrent, for preventing Spotify and other music streaming services from informing users of payment options outside its App Store. The European Commission's decision was triggered by a 2019 complaint by Swedish music streaming service Spotify over this restriction and Apple's 30% App Store fees. The European Union enforcer said Apple's restrictions constituted unfair trading conditions, a relatively novel argument in an antitrust case and also used by the Dutch antitrust agency in a decision against Apple in 2021 in a case brought by dating app providers.