The EU Commission hits Apple and Meta with draconian fines
The EU has fired its first regulatory shot under the Digital Markets Act, fining Apple €500M and Meta €200M for anti-competitive practices. As US-EU digital tensions grow, the tech giants face pressure to comply or risk deeper penalties.
The European Commission has fined tech giants Apple and Meta a combined €700 million, marking the first penalties under the EU’s Digital Markets Act (DMA).
The act, designed to rein in the dominance of the world’s largest online platforms, targets practices that the EU considers harmful to consumer choice and digital competition.
Apple case
Apple received a €500 million fine for its App Store’s restrictive ‘steering terms,’ which the Commission found fail to allow users to discover better offers on other marketplaces.
Apple defended its position, calling the EU’s decision an unfair attack on its business model and pledging to appeal.
Meta case
Meta was fined €200 million for its controversial ‘pay or consent’ model introduced on Facebook and Instagram in the EU in late 2023.
The Commission argued that Meta’s practice of forcing users to accept the combination of their data for targeted advertising breaches privacy rights under the DMA.
Meta responded sharply, accusing the EU of targeting successful American firms while giving a pass to their European and Chinese counterparts.
Larger context:
The fines come when transatlantic tensions over trade and regulation escalate.
Although the European Commission insists the sanctions are unrelated to US-EU trade disputes, the White House has previously warned that such actions would face scrutiny and could prompt retaliatory tariffs.
Both Apple and Meta now have 60 days to comply with the rulings or face additional penalty payments.
Despite the regulatory significance of the decision, the announcement was delivered via press release, with key EU officials overseeing the DMA absent.
Their absence sparked questions about political coordination and timing, especially given recent US visits by EU leaders and ongoing diplomatic friction over digital regulation.
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