700 million euros in fines: EU’s digital hammer strikes hard

Apple and Meta have violated the rules—and it’s costing them dearly.

For the first time, the EU has used its new Digital Markets Act—and it’s proving costly for Apple and Meta.

Apple is fined 500 million euros for limiting how app developers communicate with users about alternative payment options.

Meta gets no cheaper deal: their “pay or consent” model costs them 200 million euros.

Meta quicker to call it a tariff

The DMA took effect in 2024 and aims to limit the power of large tech firms in the EU. Both cases have been under investigation for over a year and mark a shift in Europe’s approach to digital platforms.

Apple must now change its practices by June—or face daily fines. And the EU already has several more investigations underway, which could lead to new sanctions.

Europe has sent a clear signal: The future of Big Tech in the EU will not be business as usual.

Joel Kaplan, Chief Global Affairs Officer at Meta, comments on the fine:

“The European Commission is trying to handicap successful American companies while allowing Chinese and European firms to operate under different standards. It’s not just about a fine; the Commission’s demand that we change our business model effectively imposes a multi-billion-dollar tariff on Meta, while forcing us to offer an inferior service. And by unfairly restricting personalized advertising, the European Commission also harms European businesses and economies.“

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