EU Fines Apple and Meta for Digital Markets Act Violations

The European Commission has imposed substantial fines on two major technology companies, Apple and Meta, for violations of the EU’s Digital Markets Act (DMA). Apple received a penalty of €500 million, while Meta was fined €200 million. These actions underscore the EU’s commitment to enforcing new digital regulations designed to foster fair competition and protect consumer rights within the digital market.

The fines were issued after investigations revealed that Apple restricted third-party app developers from informing users about alternative purchasing options outside the App Store. Meta’s penalty stemmed from its failure to provide users with a genuine choice regarding the combination of personal data across its platforms, such as Facebook and Instagram, without proper consent mechanisms.

Both companies have publicly criticized the decisions, arguing that the fines are disproportionate and that the regulatory requirements are unclear. However, the European Commission maintains that robust enforcement is necessary to ensure compliance with the DMA and to prevent dominant digital platforms from undermining competition and consumer choice.

These enforcement actions send a clear signal to other digital gatekeepers operating in the EU. The Commission’s approach demonstrates its resolve to uphold the principles of the DMA and to hold major tech firms accountable for practices that contravene EU digital law.