The European Union has fined Apple and Meta a combined total of 700 million euros ($770 million) for violating digital competition laws, marking a significant step in the bloc’s crackdown on U.S. tech giants.
The penalties risk escalating tensions between the EU and U.S. President Donald Trump, as both sides are in discussions to avoid Trump’s sweeping tariffs on European imports.
The European Commission levied a 500-million-euro fine on Apple after concluding that the company had prevented developers from steering customers outside its App Store to find cheaper deals.
Apple is accused of restricting competition by making it difficult for users to access alternatives to the App Store.
Meta was fined 200 million euros for violating privacy regulations under the EU’s Digital Markets Act (DMA), which enforces stricter rules on big tech companies.
Meta’s “pay or consent” system on Facebook and Instagram, introduced in 2023, forces users to either pay to avoid data collection or agree to share their personal data.
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The EU ruled that Meta had failed to provide users with an option to use the platforms with less personalized content.
These fines are the first under the Digital Markets Act, which aims to open up the market to more competition. If Apple and Meta do not comply within 60 days, the fines could increase, with periodic penalty payments.
Both companies have expressed strong opposition to the fines. Apple plans to appeal, calling the decision “unfair,” while Meta argued that the EU’s actions hinder American businesses and favor competitors in other regions.
The fines come amid ongoing concerns over the EU’s digital laws and their potential to provoke further trade tensions, particularly with Trump, who has criticized the bloc’s tech regulations as “non-tariff barriers.”
