Apple and Meta have been fined €500 million and €200 million respectively by the European Union for breaching the bloc’s new Digital Markets Act, escalating tensions in the transatlantic tech trade dispute.
The European Commission has imposed hefty fines on tech giants Apple and Meta for violating the EU’s Digital Markets Act (DMA), marking one of the bloc’s most forceful moves yet to rein in dominant online platforms.
Apple was fined €500 million for limiting app developers’ ability to inform users about alternative, cheaper subscription options outside of the App Store. The Commission found that these restrictions hindered competition and harmed consumers by preventing access to better deals.
“Due to a number of restrictions imposed by Apple, app developers cannot fully benefit from alternative distribution channels… and consumers cannot fully benefit from cheaper offers,” the Commission stated. Apple has been ordered to lift the technical and commercial barriers it places on developers.
Meanwhile, Meta — the parent company of Facebook and Instagram — received a €200 million penalty for its controversial “consent or pay” subscription model. Introduced in late 2023, the system charged users a monthly fee if they declined to have their personal data used for targeted ads.
The Commission ruled that the model did not offer genuine consent and failed to provide users with a meaningful choice. Investigators found that fewer than one percent of users opted to pay, suggesting that the model effectively coerced consent for data usage.
“These practices forced users to consent to the use of their personal data for advertising,” said a senior Commission official.
The penalties follow separate antitrust investigations opened in 2023, shortly after the DMA came into force. The new law targets so-called “gatekeepers” — large digital firms with the power to control market access — and is designed to ensure fair competition across the EU’s digital landscape.
The ruling is expected to fuel ongoing trade tensions between Brussels and Washington. U.S. President Donald Trump has criticized the EU’s regulatory stance, calling it discriminatory against American tech firms.
Both Apple and Meta are expected to appeal the fines in EU courts.
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