EU Fines Apple and Meta Hundreds of Millions for Breaking Tech Competition Rules
The European Union has hit two American tech giants with hefty fines for allegedly violating the bloc’s Digital Markets Act (DMA). Apple faces a fine of €500 million (approximately $568 million), while Meta has been fined €200 million (around $227 million).
According to the EU, Apple failed to meet its obligation to allow app developers to inform users about alternative ways to purchase digital goods — a direct breach of the DMA.
As for Meta, the Commission criticized the company’s current approach on Instagram and Facebook, where users are required to either accept personalized ads or pay for a subscription. Regulators are still evaluating whether Meta’s “less-personalized ads” option is compliant.
Both companies have received cease-and-desist orders, signaling a serious move from the EU as tensions between Europe and the U.S. continue to escalate, especially amid U.S. President Donald Trump’s shifting stance on support for Ukraine. Trump has previously described the EU’s tech rules as “non-tariff barriers to trade”, and has threatened retaliatory tariffs.
Apple strongly objected to the ruling, stating that the EU has “unfairly” targeted the company. In a statement, Apple claimed the decision is “bad for the privacy and security of our users, bad for products, and force us to give away our technology for free.”
Meta’s Chief Global Affairs Officer Joel Kaplan was even more blunt, accusing the EU Commission of aiming to “handicap successful American businesses while allowing Chinese and European companies to operate under different standards.”
“This isn’t about a fine,” Kaplan added. “The Commission forcing us to change our business model effectively imposes a multi-billion-dollar tariff on Meta while requiring us to offer an inferior service.”
Both companies plan to appeal the decisions, setting the stage for what could be a drawn-out legal battle over the future of digital market regulation in Europe.
