Apple Pay targeted in Dutch antitrust probe

At present, iPhone and Apple Watch users can only make NFC payments using Apple Pay. Picture: Chris Ratcliffe/Bloomberg

Apple phones face scrutiny from Dutch antitrust regulators who are probing whether users get a free choice of financial apps with contactless payments.

The Netherlands Authority for Consumers and Markets said it started an investigation into payment apps’ access to near-field communication, which allows people to wave their phones at payment terminals to make purchases.