The European Commission has fined Apple €500 million and Meta €200 million for violating the Digital Markets Act (DMA). The DMA, which took effect in 2024, aims to regulate large tech companies, referred to as 'gatekeepers', to ensure fair competition in digital markets.
Apple was penalized for preventing app developers from informing users about alternative purchasing options outside the App Store, a practice the EU deemed as anti-steering. Meta's fine stems from its 'consent or pay' model, where users were required to either consent to personalized advertising or pay for an ad-free version of Facebook and Instagram. The EU found this model did not provide users with a genuine choice regarding their data.
The companies have 60 days to comply with the Commission's orders or face further penalties. Both Apple and Meta have expressed their intent to appeal the decisions. The EU is currently assessing changes that Meta introduced in November 2024 to comply with the regulation. The Commission also closed an investigation into Apple's compliance with the DMA's rules on browsers and default apps.