The European Union has fined tech giants Apple and Meta a combined €700 million for violating the bloc’s tough new digital competition rules, in a move that could further strain its already tense relationship with U.S. President Donald Trump.
Announced on Wednesday, the fines mark the first major enforcement actions under the EU’s Digital Markets Act (DMA), which came into force in 2023 to rein in the power of Big Tech and promote fairer competition online.
Apple received the lion’s share of the penalties—€500 million—for preventing app developers from directing users to cheaper subscription options outside the App Store, a practice the Commission ruled stifled competition and harmed consumers. Meta was fined €200 million over its controversial “pay or consent” model introduced on Facebook and Instagram, which regulators say did not give users a real alternative to data tracking.
EU antitrust chief Teresa Ribera said the decisions sent a “strong and clear message” that the DMA will be enforced with consistency and determination.
“No One is Above the Law”
“These fines demonstrate that no company—no matter how large or powerful—is above EU law,” Ribera said. “We are committed to protecting consumers and ensuring tech markets remain open and fair.”
The Commission has given both companies 60 days to comply or face additional “periodic penalty payments,” signaling its intent to closely monitor future behavior.
The fines come at a politically sensitive time, as the EU attempts to negotiate a deal with Washington to avoid new U.S. tariffs on European goods. President Trump has repeatedly criticized the EU’s regulatory stance as anti-American and has imposed steep tariffs on European exports, including steel, aluminum, and cars.
Big Tech Fires Back
Both Apple and Meta condemned the penalties and vowed to appeal.
Apple described the Commission’s findings as unjustified and damaging to both innovation and user security.
“This decision is another example of the European Commission unfairly targeting Apple,” the company said. “It harms our ability to create safe, high-quality user experiences and forces us to give away proprietary technology without fair compensation.”
Meta, meanwhile, accused the EU of pushing a political agenda and claimed the changes demanded would degrade user experience on its platforms.
“This fine isn’t about user choice; it’s about kneecapping successful American companies,” said Joel Kaplan, Meta’s global affairs chief and a close ally of President Trump. “The Commission is demanding that we overhaul our business model entirely while letting others operate under more lenient standards.”
Background to the Fines
The fine against Apple centers on longstanding concerns over its App Store policies, particularly its so-called “anti-steering” rules that block developers from informing users about cheaper alternatives outside Apple’s payment system.
Meta’s case is linked to the rollout of its “pay or consent” model in late 2023, which forces users to either pay for ad-free access to Facebook and Instagram or consent to extensive personal data collection. The Commission found that Meta failed to offer a less personalized—but still functional—version of its platforms, as required under the DMA.
While the Commission is still reviewing Meta’s proposed adjustments submitted in late 2024, it determined that the company’s current setup violates EU rules on user consent and data protection.
A Softer Penalty Than Expected?
Though significant, the latest fines are smaller than previous sanctions imposed under older EU laws. In March 2024, Apple was fined €1.8 billion over similar anti-competitive practices involving music streaming rivals like Spotify.
Still, EU officials made clear that these initial penalties under the DMA are just the beginning. Apple remains under investigation for allegedly making it difficult for competing app stores to operate effectively on its devices—an issue that could lead to further fines.
In a separate development, the EU has dropped another Apple case after the company complied with requirements to allow users to set third-party browsers as default and delete pre-installed apps.
As the EU steps up enforcement of its digital laws, and with Trump pushing back hard against European regulations, the clash between Brussels and Silicon Valley appears far from over.
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