Apple revises iOS rules in Brazil after regulator pact

Apple has introduced modifications to iOS in Brazil following an accord with the local competition authority known as CADE. The adjustments provide developers with fresh choices for offering apps through third-party stores and handling transactions for digital items apart from the company's In-App Purchase system. At the same time, the company added measures targeting the elevated privacy and security hazards these shifts generate.

Apple reaches agreement with CADE on iOS changes. The pact grants developers expanded pathways for distribution and external billing of digital goods and services. Apple reportedly collaborated with the regulator on defenses such as mandatory Notarization for iOS apps, an approval regime for marketplace operators, plus rules aimed at shielding minors from unsuitable material and deceptive schemes.

The modifications create fresh exposure to malware, fraud, scams, and related privacy and security risks. While the added defenses cannot remove those dangers entirely, Apple views them as vital to preserving iOS as the safest mobile platform available in Brazil. The firm pledged ongoing dialogue with regulators to reinforce user safeguards.

Alternative app marketplaces gain authorization path. Apple continues to position the App Store — complete with its rigorous vetting for privacy and security — as the optimal destination for Brazilian iOS users seeking apps. That environment also supplies tools against fraud and parental controls for age-appropriate use. Under the CADE deal, however, developers may now release iOS apps in Brazil via approved alternative marketplaces that must satisfy continuous obligations to support both creators and customers.

Titles obtained outside the App Store will miss the full safeguards of Apple's standard review, raising prospects of fraudulent, abusive, or objectionable content. In response, the company will perform Notarization on every iOS app distributed in the country. This lighter baseline check blends automated scans with human oversight to verify core operations and block recognized malware, viruses, or comparable hazards. Apple notes that Notarization falls short of the depth provided by conventional App Review.

Alternative payments enabled for App Store apps. Brazilian users can still rely on Apple In-App Purchase inside the App Store for acquiring digital goods and services, overseeing subscriptions, seeking refunds, and checking transaction records. Pursuant to the CADE agreement, developers of iOS apps listed on the Brazilian App Store may now embed rival payment processors within their software or direct customers to external sites to finish purchases.

Developers can learn about the new capabilities on the Apple Developer Support page and integrate them into their apps beginning today as part of iOS 26.5.