EU claims Apple breaking competition law over contactless payments

Company accused of abusing market position to limit rivals' access to technology required for tap-and-go transactions

EU regulators have charged Apple with breaking competition law by limiting rivals' access to technology that is key to making contactless payments, unfairly benefiting its own Apple Pay service.

The European Commission said on Monday that Apple sets the rules" on its closed platform and expressed concern that it has been limiting access to technology called near field communication (NFC), which rivals need for tap-and-go payments to be made in stores using mobile wallets.