Overview
- The European Commission imposed its first fines under the Digital Markets Act (DMA), targeting Apple and Meta for violating competition rules.
- Apple was fined €500 million for restricting app developers from directing users to cheaper offers outside its App Store.
- Meta received a €200 million fine for its 'pay-or-consent' model, which forces users to accept personalized ads or pay for an ad-free experience.
- Both companies have been given 60 days to amend their practices or face additional daily fines, and both plan to contest the penalties in court.
- The fines highlight ongoing tensions between the EU and the US, with Washington criticizing the DMA as unfairly targeting American tech giants.