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3mo ago

EU Stands Firm on Antitrust Actions Against Meta and Apple Despite U.S. Pressure

The European Commission plans to proceed with major decisions under the Digital Markets Act next month, resisting lobbying from Meta and the Trump administration.

U.S. President Donald Trump speaks with European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen prior to their meeting at the World Economic Forum in Davos, on Jan. 21, 2020.
Meta's top lobbyist, Joel Kaplan, warned the EU Commission he would have no other choice than to enlist Donald Trump's help as soon as it felt like Brussels was not treating it fairly.
Teresa Ribera, the European Union's competition commissioner, looks on during an interview with Reuters in London, Britain, February 17, 2025. REUTERS/Kevin Coombs
Teresa Ribera, the European Union's competition commissioner, speaks during an interview with Reuters in London, Britain, February 17, 2025. REUTERS/Kevin Coombs

Overview

  • The European Commission confirmed it will announce antitrust decisions on Meta and Apple in March, rejecting U.S. pressure to delay enforcement.
  • Meta and Apple face allegations of violating the EU's Digital Markets Act, with potential fines reaching up to 10% of global annual revenue for first-time violations.
  • Meta has signaled it will seek support from President Donald Trump if it perceives EU actions as discriminatory, with CEO Mark Zuckerberg and policy chief Joel Kaplan vocalizing this stance.
  • The EU maintains that its regulations apply equally to all companies, regardless of origin, countering claims of bias from U.S. firms and the Trump administration.
  • The Commission has shown some regulatory flexibility in other areas, such as AI oversight, but insists this is unrelated to external pressure from the U.S.