The European Commission has fined Apple and Meta a total of 700 million euros for suspected violations of the EU’s Digital Markets Act (DMA), which oversees large internet platforms in the region.
Apple received a 500 million euro fine, while Meta was fined 200 million euros.
Both corporations have the option of challenging the sanctions in court.
The penalty may further strain EU-US relations, particularly in the area of commerce.
Republican lawmakers in Washington frequently see such fines from Brussels as an indirect kind of taxes on American IT behemoths.
However, the European Commission, the EU’s executive body, maintains that its actions are not politically motivated, stressing that its enforcement is “firm but balanced.”
EU Commission Vice-President Teresa Ribera stated that “Apple and Meta have failed to comply with the Digital Markets Act by adopting practices that increase the dependence of businesses and consumers on their platforms.”
According to statement from the Commission, Apple is accused of limiting app developers’ ability to promote their services outside the App Store and of not proving that such restrictions are necessary or proportionate.
Apple has said it will appeal the decision, calling the ruling another instance of the European Commission unfairly targeting the company. “Today’s announcements reflect a pattern of decisions that undermine user privacy and security,” the company said.
Meta’s fine relates to its “pay-or-consent” model, which was in place between March and November 2024.
Under this model, Facebook and Instagram users in the EU had to choose between paying for an ad-free experience or using a free version that included personalised advertising.
According to the European Commission, this configuration violated the Digital Markets Act by failing to provide consumers with a clear alternative to choose platforms with less data tracking while still receiving a service comparable to one with personalized adverts.
Apple and Meta have been given 60 days to bring their practices in full line with the DMA, or they would face repeated penalty payments, the commission said.
These fines are the first official non-compliance rulings under the DMA, which took effect in 2022. While large, the penalties could have been more severe—EU law authorizes fines of up to 10% of a company’s global annual revenue, and up to 20% for repeat offenses.
In 2024, Apple reported revenues just under $400 billion, while Meta’s turnover was approximately $165 billion.
