European Commission fines Apple and Meta for breaching digital rules
The European Commission has fined Apple 500 million EUR and Meta 200 million EUR for violating the Digital Markets Act (DMA), marking the first penalties under the new legislation.
Apple was penalised for hindering app developers from directing users to alternative offers outside the App Store. Meta, meanwhile, was fined for enforcing its "consent or pay" model on Facebook and Instagram users until November 2024, forcing them to either accept targeted ads based on personal data or pay to avoid them.
The DMA, in effect since March 2024, aims to curb the dominance of major tech platforms and ensure fair competition. “Apple and Meta have breached the DMA by introducing measures that increase the dependency of business users and consumers on their platforms,” said Commission vice-president Teresa Ribera, responsible for competition policy. “All companies operating in the European Union must comply with our laws and respect European values.”
Both companies have 60 days to comply with the Commission’s decisions. While fines under the DMA can reach up to 10 per cent of a company’s global turnover, the Commission stated these penalties reflect the seriousness and duration of the violations.
Officials noted that the fines were unrelated to the broader tariff actions pursued by President Donald Trump.
© PHOTO CFOTO / SIPA USA
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