EU Hits Apple and Meta with Over €700 Million in Fines Under Landmark Digital Markets Act
In a bold assertion of its new digital authority, the European Union has fined tech titans Apple and Meta a combined €700 million ($797 million), marking the first major enforcement action under the bloc’s sweeping Digital Markets Act (DMA).
The European Commission—the EU’s powerful regulatory arm—announced Wednesday that Apple will pay €500 million ($570 million) and Meta €200 million ($228 million) for practices deemed in violation of the DMA’s core principles.
The law, designed to curb the dominance of so-called “gatekeeper” tech firms, signals a new era of assertive digital governance in Europe.
The timing of the fines is likely to deepen tensions with Washington, where the Trump administration has accused Brussels of targeting American tech firms unfairly.
Meta’s Chief Global Affairs Officer, Joel Kaplan, echoed this sentiment, accusing the Commission of “trying to handicap successful American businesses.”
“This is more than just a financial penalty,” Kaplan said. “The Commission is effectively imposing a multi-billion-dollar tariff on Meta by forcing us to alter our business model and deliver a less effective service.”
The Commission’s year-long probe found Meta in breach of user data rights under the DMA. Specifically, it faulted Meta’s “consent or pay” advertising model introduced in late 2023, which required Facebook and Instagram users in the EU to either agree to extensive personal data tracking or pay for an ad-free experience. While Meta later offered a version with “less personal data processing,” regulators are still assessing whether this revised model aligns with EU law.
Apple, meanwhile, was penalized for violating the DMA’s “anti-steering” provisions, which mandate that app developers be allowed to direct users to alternative purchasing options outside the App Store without restrictions or fees.
According to the Commission, Apple’s longstanding policies obstructed developers from informing users about potentially cheaper or more flexible offers, thus limiting consumer choice.
“These restrictions mean consumers cannot fully benefit from alternative and more affordable offerings,” the Commission stated.
Apple responded sharply, vowing to appeal the ruling. “This fine is yet another instance of the Commission unfairly singling out Apple and demanding we give away our proprietary technology,” a company spokesperson said. “We’ve invested hundreds of thousands of engineering hours to meet these ever-changing requirements—none of which were requested by our users.”
The Commission justified the scale of the fines by citing the “gravity and duration” of the violations, stressing that both companies must pay within 60 days or face additional penalties.
As Brussels flexes its regulatory muscle, the tech world is watching closely—this high-profile enforcement may just be the opening salvo in a broader effort to redefine the boundaries of digital power in Europe and beyond.
