EU Fines Apple and Meta €700m Over App Store Practices and Data Consent Rules

The European Union has fined tech giants Apple and Meta a total of €700 million under its new Digital Markets Act (DMA), which aims to ensure fair competition in the digital sector. Apple received a €500 million penalty for restricting access to alternative app marketplaces through its App Store, a move the Commission deemed anti-competitive. Meta was fined €200 million for its ‘consent or pay’ model, which forced users to either agree to extensive data collection or pay a subscription, violating the principle of free consent. Both companies condemned the fines, accusing the EU of unfairly targeting American firms and threatening innovation. Apple claimed the decision compromised user privacy and security, while Meta criticized what it sees as a double standard favoring European and Chinese companies. The fines come amidst growing transatlantic tensions, as the US has criticized European regulatory actions as discriminatory. Despite the penalties being lower than past EU fines against big tech, they carry significant symbolic weight in the ongoing global debate over digital regulation. Legal experts view the move as part of Europe’s effort to assert regulatory authority over dominant tech firms. Epic Games, which has long challenged Apple’s app policies, welcomed the ruling as a victory for app developers.