The European Union has imposed hefty fines on Apple and Meta for allegedly violating the Digital Markets Act, according to The Wall Street Journal. Apple was fined €500 million (around $568 million), while Meta received a €200 million (approximately $227 million) penalty.
Regulators claim Apple failed to meet the requirement of allowing app developers to inform users about alternative purchasing options for digital content. As for Meta, the EU criticized the company’s practice of forcing Facebook and Instagram users to either accept personalized ads or pay for a subscription. The Commission is still evaluating whether Meta’s proposed “less-personalized ads” option meets regulatory standards.
In addition to the fines, the EU issued cease-and-desist orders against both tech giants, as tensions between the bloc and the U.S. remain high—particularly amid disagreements over trade policies and diminishing U.S. support for Ukraine under former President Donald Trump. Trump has accused the EU of using tech regulations as disguised trade barriers and has threatened retaliatory tariffs.
Both companies plan to challenge the EU’s rulings.
Apple stated that the decision unfairly targets the company, harms user privacy and security, and forces it to give away its proprietary technology for free.
Meanwhile, Meta’s Chief Global Affairs Officer, Joel Kaplan, argued that the Commission is undermining successful American companies while giving European and Chinese firms an unfair advantage. Kaplan also said the imposed changes would act like a multi-billion-dollar tariff on Meta and would result in a downgraded user experience.
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