Apple and Meta were sanctioned by the European Commission for violations of the Digital Markets Act. Fines, respectively from 500 million euros for Apple and 200 million per goal, represent a turning point in the application of the new EU rules for limit the power of the big tech and promote competition and transparency.
The accusations concern on the one hand the control of Apple on the App Store, which would prevent developers from promoting external offers and on the other the “consensus or payment” model of Meta to access Facebook and Instagram without advertising. For users there are changes in sight.
App Store in the sights of the EU
The European Commission finally inflicted one 500 million euro fine to Apple for violation of the Digital Markets Act. The knot concerns the so -called Anti-Steering Obligationwhich requires large digital operators, called gatekeeper, not to hinder developers in proposing alternatives to their official store.
Apple, according to Brussels, has imposed a series of technical and commercial restrictions that prevent developers from freely directing users to external platforms where to buy products or services at better conditions. The result would be a damage for consumerswho cannot know or exploit the most convenient offers.
On the other hand, closed with a positive outcome, thanks to some correctives introduced by Cupertino, the investigation on the failure to comply with the default settings and on the alternative browser screen on iOS.
Meta punished for the “Consent or pay” model
Meta also ended up under the lens of the Commission for the “Consent or Payment” model. From March to November 2024, European Facebook and Instagram users were asked to choose: to consent to the use of their data for personalized advertising or pay a subscription for a service without announcements.
According to Brussels this is not a real alternative, because a third option is missing: a Free service with less use of data. In short, a destination would not have guaranteed users’ right to a free and informed consent, as required by the DMA.
For this violation, the Commission has inflicted one Fine of 200 million euros. In November Meta updated the advertising model by introducing a less invasive option, but its compliance is still the subject of evaluation.
Apple and the “Core Technology Fee”
In addition to the sanction already imposed, Apple may soon have to answer for a new dispute. Concerns the so -called Core Technology Feea fixed commission that the company imposes on developers who want to publish their apps outside the App Store.
The problem, according to Brussels, is twofold: on the one hand, the requirements to use alternative stores would be excessively restrictive; on the other, the procedure for installing apps outside the App Store would be confused and discouraging for the average user.
Apple, according to the Commission, has not shown that these measures are necessary or proportionate. The investigation is still in progress, but it could lead to new penalties.
Marketplace excluded from the Digital Markets Act
Good news instead by goal on the front Marketplace. After an analysis of the company’s numbers and requests, the Commission decided to remove Facebook Marketplace from the list of platforms regulated by the DMA.
The reason is that in 2024 the platform counted Less than 10,000 commercial usersminimum threshold to return to the so -called gatekeeper. Marketplace is therefore no longer considered an access point for the online business and, therefore, will no longer be subject to the most severe rules provided for by the legislation.
What happens now
Apple and Meta have now 60 days to adapt to the decisions of the Commission. Otherwise, they risk new even heavier penalties, up to 10% of the turnover global annual.
These are the first concrete applications of the Digital Markets Act and the message that Europe wanted to send is that the rules are worth for everyone, also for the giants of the Silicon Valley. The goal, explains the vice president Teresa RiberA, it is not punishing, but protecting the freedom of choice of users, creating conditions of competition and returning centrality to smaller businesses.
Apple and Meta’s response
The reply of the two companies was not long in coming. Apple announced the appeal against the decision, calling it an unjustified attack:
Today’s announcements are yet another example of how the commission has unjustly targeted Apple (…) despite the countless meetings, the commission continues to move the stakes at every step, “said a spokesperson.
The goal reaction also lasts, which openly disputes the compatibility of the new rules with its business model:
It is not just a fine; The fact that the Commission forces us to change our business model is in fact equivalent to imposing a billion dollars in destination, “said Joel Kaplan, vice -president for public policies.
The two companies claim to have made concrete efforts for adapt to the European legislation and denounce the uncertainty generated by increasingly extensive interpretations of the DMA.
