Apple has strongly defended its control over iPhone NFC features amid scrutiny from Brazil’s competition authority, CADE. The company argues that local banks are attempting to gain unfair advantages without investing in their own technology.
Brazil Launches Investigation into NFC Restrictions
Brazil’s central bank, Banco Central, and the banking association Febraban recently urged CADE to probe Apple’s policies on third-party access to iPhone NFC chips. They claim Apple favors its own payment services while restricting competitors.
Apple counters these claims by highlighting its modest 10% share of Brazil’s smartphone market. Developers have gained NFC access on iPhones since 2024, providing ample opportunities for third-party apps.
PIX Dominance Shapes Apple’s Position
Brazilians enjoy robust payment choices, especially through PIX, the nation’s free instant payment system introduced in 2020. PIX overwhelmingly leads as the preferred method, primarily via QR codes.
Banco Central introduced a contactless version of PIX last year. While Google adopted it, Apple views the feature as unnecessary, given the widespread use of QR-based transactions.
Recent Submission Accuses Banks of ‘Free Ride’
In a fresh statement to CADE submitted days ago, Apple accuses Brazilian banks of seeking a ‘free ride’ by demanding NFC access without developing their own solutions. The company maintains that users are already well-served.
This follows a closed-door meeting on January 15 between Apple representatives and Banco Central’s regulation director, Gilneu Francisco Astolfi Vivan. The session focused on regulatory matters, with no further details released.
