Britain seeks to break Apple's grip on contactless payments

The UK's Competition and Markets Authority proposed measures to loosen Apple's control over contactless payments by lowering fees and removing technical barriers for rival wallet providers. The consultation runs until November 17 before a final decision. Apple said it opposes any approach with lower privacy and security protections.

• CMA proposes "substantially lower" access fees to Apple's contactless technology
• Measures are less onerous than EU rules from 2024 that gave third-party wallets free access
• Contactless payments account for 39% of all UK payments, up from 3% a decade ago
• Over 60% of adults use a digital wallet, with Apple Wallet the most popular in Britain