Apple and Meta have been fined €570 million and €228 million respectively by the European Union for breaching the bloc’s Digital Markets Act, which regulates dominant tech firms and aims to ensure fair competition.
The European Commission, the EU’s executive body, imposed the fines after separate investigations concluded that both tech companies engaged in anti-competitive practices under the new regulations.
Apple was penalised for preventing app developers from directing users to cheaper subscription options outside its App Store.
The commission stated that this conduct limited both developer freedom and consumer choice, violating obligations under the Digital Markets Act which came into force in 2023.
“Due to a number of restrictions imposed by Apple, app developers cannot fully benefit from the advantages of alternative distribution channels,” the commission noted. It added that Apple must remove technical and commercial restrictions that limit alternative offers.
Meta, which owns Facebook and Instagram, was fined for its “consent or pay” subscription model introduced in 2023. Under this model, users who declined to allow the use of their personal data for targeted ads were required to pay a monthly fee to continue using the platforms.
The commission ruled this approach deprived users of a genuine choice and effectively forced consent. EU officials noted that less than one per cent of users opted for the paid alternative, reinforcing concerns over the fairness of the model.
The financial penalties are among the first major sanctions under the Digital Markets Act and are expected to intensify the transatlantic dispute over tech regulation.
US President Donald Trump has previously criticised EU policies targeting American tech giants.
Both Apple and Meta are expected to challenge the decisions in EU courts, potentially setting up a lengthy legal battle.
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