Overview

• Apple was fined €500 million for restricting app developers from directing users to cheaper alternatives outside its App Store.
• Meta received a €200 million fine for its 'pay-or-consent' model, which required users to either allow data tracking for ads or pay for an ad-free service.
• These are the first sanctions imposed under the EU's Digital Markets Act, which aims to curb the dominance of major tech platforms.
• Both companies have 60 days to comply with EU orders or face additional periodic penalties and have announced plans to appeal the rulings.
• The fines have drawn criticism from the U.S., with President Trump’s administration labeling them as economic extortion and threatening potential retaliatory tariffs.