Apple and Meta under fire – The EU fines both tech giants under the new Digital Markets Act amid growing regulatory pressure.
Credit : Koshiro K, Shutterstock
Tech giants Apple and Meta hit with EU fines over digital rules, as the Commission sends a message — without fuelling the trade fire.
The European Commission has handed out two fresh fines to tech heavyweights Apple and Meta this week, citing violations of the EU’s Digital Markets Act (DMA) — but the move came with a notable dose of restraint.
While the penalties make headlines, they were relatively modest in financial terms: €500 million for Apple, and €200 million for Meta. Both cases were tied to behaviours the EU sees as undermining fair competition and user rights in the digital marketplace. Yet behind the enforcement lies a broader balancing act — sending a signal of seriousness, without turning up the heat in an already sensitive trade climate with Washington.
Why the EU fined Apple and Meta — and what they did wrong
Apple’s fine stems from its handling of app developers and how they interact with users. According to Brussels, Apple was making it difficult for developers to steer users toward alternative platforms or pricing options — a practice that directly clashes with the DMA’s focus on fairness and transparency in the digital ecosystem.
Meta’s case focused on its ‘pay or consent’ model — the controversial system introduced on platforms like Facebook and Instagram, which gives users a binary choice: agree to share personal data for targeted ads, or pay for an ad-free experience. The Commission argued this setup essentially forces users into consent, failing the spirit of informed and free choice required under the new rules.
EU keeps Apple and Meta fines low and drops two other DMA cases
While the Commission could have issued fines of up to 10% of annual global turnover under the DMA, both penalties landed at the lower end of the scale. An EU official said this was partly because the Digital Markets Act is still new, and ‘duration’ — one of the criteria used to calculate fines — couldn’t be fully applied yet. They also noted the ‘gravity’ and ‘recurrence’ of the breaches were considered, but the goal was to enforce the rules without creating unnecessary escalation.
Interestingly, while issuing fines, the Commission also closed two other probes involving the same firms. One case had been looking into whether Apple was blocking changes to browser choice screens — a key issue around user autonomy. The other involved a review of Facebook Marketplace, which regulators concluded does not qualify as a ‘core platform service’ under the DMA.
Brussels enforces tech rules while trying to avoid US trade tensions
The move comes at a delicate moment in EU-US relations, with trade tensions simmering just beneath the surface. The European Commission’s latest actions show it’s willing to enforce its digital agenda — but also keen to avoid a regulatory confrontation with Washington.
Both Apple and Meta have been contacted for comment on the rulings, but as of yet, neither has responded publicly.
With the DMA only just beginning to reshape the rules of the road for Big Tech in Europe, this may be just the opening act. What’s clear for now is that Brussels is laying down its authority — but carefully watching the geopolitical winds as it does so.
