Apple Opens iOS App Store to Alternatives in Brazil After CADE Deal

Apple reached a settlement with Brazil’s antitrust regulator CADE, allowing developers to distribute apps via alternative marketplaces and use external payment systems starting June 18 under iOS 26.5. This follows the EU’s June 9 rejection of Apple’s DMA-related excuses for delaying its AI-enhanced Siri rollout and Italy’s June 16-17 opening of the first DMA probe into iCloud interoperability practices. The Brazilian changes introduce a 5% Core Technology Commission fee while adding safeguards like notarization and child protections, reducing Apple’s platform control in a key market after a dispute that began in 2022.