Facebook, Instagram, WhatsApp owner Meta, Apple faces millions of penalties. Details are here

EU regulators said on Wednesday that Apple and Meta were the first companies to be punished for violating new laws aimed at increasing competition in the digital economy, the latest competition from a series of regulatory setbacks for technology giants.

Apple was fined 500 million euros ($570 million) and Mehta broke the 2022 Digital Markets Act fine of 200 million euros ($230 million). European law aims to prevent large tech companies from misusing their status as digital gatekeepers who can unilaterally impose demands on users and businesses.

According to the European Commission, the executive branch of 27-Nation Bloc, Apple violated the Digital Markets Act, limiting how application developers communicate sales and other offers with customers. Meta violated it by imposing a “consent or paying” system that forces users to allow their personal data to be used to target ads, or to pay subscription fees for ad-free versions of Facebook and Instagram.
Even the U.S. and the EU’s dispute over trade, tariffs and the Ukrainian war, fines show a consensus on resolving the market forces of the world’s largest tech companies. Technology behemoths have accumulated trillions of dollars in stock value as products and services owners are essential for communication, business, information, and more.

In the United States, Google has suffered two major antitrust failures over the past year due to abuse of its power in search and advertising businesses. Meta is on trial for allegations that it suppresses competition through a buyout. Amazon and Apple also face our antitrust lawsuits.

European officials say the rulings have nothing to do with trade talks with the United States, but it is unclear how the Trump administration will react. The White House memo in February said that if the EU targets U.S. tech companies under the Digital Markets Act or Digital Services Act, it is a law designed to curb illegal online content and false information.

FAQ

Q1. What is Meta’s punishment for Apple?
A1. Apple was fined 500 million euros ($570 million) and Mehta broke the 2022 Digital Markets Act fine of 200 million euros ($230 million).

Q2. Apple, what did Meta do?
A2. According to the European Commission, the executive branch of 27-Nation Bloc, Apple violated the Digital Markets Act, limiting how application developers communicate sales and other offers with customers. Meta violated it by imposing a “consent or paying” system that forces users to allow their personal data to be used to target ads, or to pay subscription fees for ad-free versions of Facebook and Instagram.