The European Union imposed hefty fines on tech giants Apple and Meta on Wednesday, totaling €700 million, for violating the bloc’s new digital competition laws — a move that could further strain relations with U.S. President Donald Trump.
The penalties come amid ongoing negotiations aimed at avoiding Trump’s broad tariffs on European imports. The European Commission fined Apple €500 million ($570 million), accusing the company of blocking app developers from directing users to cheaper alternatives outside its App Store.
Meta, the parent company of Facebook and Instagram, was fined €200 million for its “pay or consent” model, which the EU said breaches data protection regulations by failing to provide users with meaningful consent options.
These are the first fines issued under the Digital Markets Act (DMA), a law introduced last year to rein in the dominance of major tech firms and ensure fair competition within the EU. The Commission warned that further penalties could be imposed if the companies don’t comply within 60 days, including recurring fines.
The DMA, alongside the Digital Services Act, forms the core of the EU’s updated digital regulatory framework. However, with Trump back in office, there are fears Brussels might hesitate to fully enforce these rules due to his strong opposition. He has repeatedly criticized EU digital regulations and taxes, labeling them “non-tariff barriers” to U.S. trade. Many U.S. tech executives maintain close ties with his administration.
Trump previously slapped 25% tariffs on EU steel, aluminum, and automotive imports — a matter still under discussion between Brussels and Washington.
Antitrust Commissioner Teresa Ribera defended the EU’s actions, stating the fines demonstrate the bloc’s “firm but balanced” enforcement of its digital laws.
Apple to Appeal Fine
The latest fine against Apple is considerably lower than the €1.8 billion penalty the company faced earlier in March 2024 for similar App Store-related violations under separate EU regulations. Nonetheless, the EU has warned Apple again — this time under the DMA — for making it difficult for competitors to offer alternatives to its App Store.
Apple rejected the EU’s findings and announced it would appeal the decision. In a statement, the company said, “Today’s announcements are yet another example of the European Commission unfairly targeting Apple… These rulings compromise user privacy, security, and force us to give away our technology.”
Meta Slams EU as “Unfair”
Meta also criticized the decision, with Chief Global Affairs Officer Joel Kaplan — a known Trump ally — claiming the EU is intentionally disadvantaging American companies while applying looser standards to Chinese and European firms.
“This isn’t just about money,” Kaplan said. “The Commission is forcing a change to our business model that amounts to a multi-billion-dollar tariff, all while degrading the user experience.”
The fine against Meta relates to its “pay for privacy” policy launched in November 2023, which requires users to either pay for an ad-free experience or consent to data tracking to use Facebook and Instagram for free. The EU determined that Meta failed to offer a meaningful alternative or allow users to opt out freely and still access a comparable service.
Meta submitted a revised version of the model later that year, which the Commission is currently reviewing.
In a rare reprieve for Apple, the Commission dropped a separate investigation after Apple complied with certain DMA requirements, such as allowing users to delete pre-installed apps and choose default browsers more easily.
