It is a common goal among technology companies to lead in their field, though perhaps not in this particular instance. Apple and Meta are facing substantial fines from the European Commission, becoming the first entities penalized under the European Union’s Digital Markets Act (DMA).
The announcement on Wednesday detailed that Apple has incurred a fine of €500 million, equivalent to approximately $570 million, which constitutes 0.15 percent of Apple’s 2024 revenue of $391.04 billion. The charges relate to Apple’s “anti-steering” practices, which reportedly violate DMA antitrust rules. “Anti-steering” involves practices where the Apple App Store prevents developers from informing users about alternative platforms outside the Apple App Store for making purchases.
Meanwhile, Meta has been fined €200 million, approximately $230 million, accounting for 0.14 percent of its $164.50 billion revenue in 2024. This penalty addresses Facebook and Instagram’s “pay or consent” advertising model, requiring users to either pay for an ad-free experience or consent to personal data usage for ads on the platform.
Apple and Meta have the opportunity to avoid these fines by adhering to the European Commission’s ruling within 60 days. Reports from The Verge and The New York Times indicate that both companies intend to appeal the decision.
These developments add to a tumultuous period for Google, which has recently faced two significant antitrust decisions and a cease-and-desist order from Japan’s antimonopoly body concerning unfair practices.
