Swiss Competition Commission Launches Investigation Into Apple’s NFC Restrictions

Apple is facing new regulatory scrutiny in Switzerland regarding how it manages third-party access to the NFC chips in its devices. The Swiss Competition Commission, known as WEKO, has officially opened a preliminary investigation to determine if the tech giant is violating local antitrust laws.

The inquiry focuses on whether Apple’s current rules prevent rival mobile payment providers from competing fairly with Apple Pay. Regulators are specifically looking at the “NFC and Secure Element” platform on iPhones and Apple Watches, which is essential for contactless payments in physical stores.

While Apple recently agreed to open up its NFC technology to third-party developers in the European Union, those commitments do not automatically extend to Switzerland. The country is not part of the European Economic Area, meaning the binding agreement reached with the European Commission does not apply there.

Although Apple began offering Swiss developers access to the NFC interface in late 2024, the terms differ significantly from those implemented in the EU. WEKO officials state that they need to verify if these specific conditions are technically or commercially restrictive for local competitors.

A major concern for the commission is ensuring that popular Swiss payment solutions, such as TWINT, have a fair shot at the market. If the investigation finds that Apple’s policies are exclusionary, the company could be forced to adjust its interface access rules for the Swiss market.

We are curious to hear if you think Apple should be forced to offer the same open access everywhere or if they have the right to lock down their own hardware. Let us know your perspective on this antitrust battle in the comments.