Brazil’s competition authority CADE has turned up the pressure on Apple over its NFC access policies on iPhone. The regulator has issued a formal notice compelling Apple to hand over detailed information about fees, technical requirements, and developer contracts related to NFC functionality. The deadline for Apple’s response is March 30, 2026.
The investigation was triggered after Brazil’s Central Bank and Febraban, the country’s influential banking lobby group, asked CADE to examine whether Apple unfairly limits third-party payment providers from accessing the iPhone’s NFC hardware while giving preferential treatment to Apple Pay.
Apple has pushed back on the allegations. The company argues that it charges fees for its services in line with Brazilian law and points to its relatively modest 10% share of Brazil’s smartphone market as evidence that it does not hold a dominant position. Apple also highlights that third-party developers gained access to iPhone NFC capabilities starting in 2024, suggesting the market is already well served with payment options.
A key thread in the investigation involves PIX, Brazil’s hugely popular instant payment system launched in 2020. PIX has become a cornerstone of everyday transactions in Brazil, with most users relying on QR codes to make payments. However, the Central Bank has also developed a contactless protocol for PIX that would allow tap-to-pay transactions using NFC. While Google adopted this protocol on Android devices, Apple has so far refused to integrate it, viewing the contactless PIX protocol as non-essential.
This refusal has drawn scrutiny from regulators. Apple also appears to be sidestepping classification as a “Payment Transaction Initiator” under Brazilian regulations. That designation would bring interoperability obligations and place the company under direct Central Bank supervision, potentially forcing Apple to open up its NFC stack to competing payment services on more equal terms.
The case echoes similar regulatory battles Apple has faced in other markets. The European Union’s Digital Markets Act forced Apple to open iPhone NFC to third-party payment apps in 2024, and regulators in Japan and South Korea have pursued comparable measures. Brazil’s investigation adds another front to the growing global push for NFC interoperability on Apple devices.
For the contactless payments industry, the outcome could have significant implications. If CADE determines that Apple’s NFC restrictions are anticompetitive, it could mandate open access to the iPhone’s Secure Element and NFC controller, reshaping how mobile payments work across Latin America’s largest economy.
The March 30 deadline will be a critical moment. Apple’s response will likely shape whether CADE proceeds with formal enforcement action or accepts the company’s arguments that its current approach is both lawful and pro-consumer.