Apple Pay or Apple Prey?

This article examines the regulatory challenges posed by Big Tech in digital payments, using Apple Pay as a focal point to assess how different countries assert digital sovereignty in response to the expansion of multinational technology firms. Through a comparative case study of regulatory approaches in the European Union, India, Indonesia, and Türkiye, the study highlights the disparities in policy responses and the broader implications for market competition and consumer welfare. While acknowledging U.S. political power as a factor in shaping global technology markets, this paper focuses on how regulatory capacity, institutional strength, and economic considerations influence the integration of foreign digital payment systems. By synthesizing key lessons from these case studies, the paper advocates for proactive governance, stronger regulatory frameworks, and local capacity-building to ensure that national interests are safeguarded while fostering innovation in the digital economy. In doing so, it offers insights not only for regulatory policy but also for the evolving role of Islamic economics in addressing digital sovereignty and economic justice in the platform age.