“We are asking Apple to reduce its 30% App Store tax or allow us to offer Facebook Pay so that we can absorb all costs incurred by companies struggling during COVID-19,” Facebook wrote in a blog post. “Unfortunately, they have rejected both our applications and SMEs will only pay 70% of their hard earned income.”
The social network said it plans to warn its users in its app that Apple is getting a 30 percent cut from its purchase, and that it has submitted the update for Apple approval and is awaiting a response. Apple did not immediately respond to a request for comment.
On Facebook’s Android app and website, events will use Facebook Pay, so business owners get the full amount, according to the company.
“What we care about is that all tech companies that can pay for this join us in supporting small businesses,” Facebook VP Fiji Simo said during an interview with reporters Friday.
The move makes Facebook the latest tech giant to pile on Apple as it sees anti-trust control over its App Store policies. It comes a day later Fortite broker Epic prosecuted the iPhone maker after the kick Fortnite from the App Store about their attempt to bypass Apple’s 30 percent commission. Since then, Spotify and Tinder owner Match Group have issued statements in support of EPic’s fight against Apple’s “unfair” policies.
But this is far from the first time a disagreement between Facebook and Apple has played out in public. Apple has repeatedly criticized Facebook over its privacy policy and Apple has backed Facebook’s internal apps shortly after the company was caught violating its rules for enterprise apps.
Simo said the function of the new event is intended to help companies most affected by closures due to COVID-19. The feature will use Facebook Live, and is also being tested with Messenger Rooms. It will be available in 20 countries, including the United States, UK and Australia, to sites that comply with its monetization rules.
