The European Commission has fined Apple €500 million and Meta €200 million for violating the EU's Digital Markets Act (DMA). These are the first non-compliance decisions under the DMA.
Apple was fined for restricting app developers from informing users about alternative, cheaper options outside the App Store. The Commission stated these restrictions unduly limited how developers guide users to alternative offers. Apple must remove these limitations to avoid further penalties. A separate investigation into Apple's user choice obligations closed after the company improved compliance.
Meta's ad system, introduced in November 2023, required EU users of Facebook and Instagram to consent to personal data combination for personalized ads or pay for an ad-free version. The Commission found this model non-compliant with the DMA, as it didn't offer a clear choice for a service using less personal data. Meta introduced a new ad model in November 2024, which is under review. The Commission also removed Facebook Marketplace from the DMA designation due to low business user numbers. Apple and Meta have 60 days to comply or face further penalties.