EU sets Apple and Meta with millions of penalties - Schilling cheers!

EU sets Apple and Meta with millions of penalties - Schilling cheers!

On April 23, 2025, the EU Commission imposed penalty payments of 500 million euros against Apple and 200 million euros against Meta due to violations of the Digital Markets Act (DMA). These measures marked the first application of the DMA and were celebrated by the youngest MEP, Lena Schilling. Schilling emphasized the need to set clear limits for American tech companies in order to create fair competitive conditions.

Süleyman Zorba, the Greens' digitization spokesman, also positively represented the decision of the EU Commission. He explained that the creation of clear rules for digital markets was decisive to prevent the abuse of market power. Basically, the EU pursues the goal of promoting a fair market with innovative strength and a high level of competition.

Details about the violations

The punishments for Apple and Meta result from their practices, which significantly impaired competition and consumer election. Apple behaved inappropriately by prohibiting app developers to inform users about alternative purchase options outside of the app store, which made it difficult to access potentially cheaper offers. Meta, on the other hand, was punished on Facebook and Instagram due to its “Consent or Pay” model, forcing the user to agree to the use of their personalized data or to pay for an ad-free experience. According to the Commission, this model did not offer an equivalent alternative that required less personal data, and thus violated the right of users for free consent.

Both companies also received injunctive relief orders. However, the penalties imposed are significantly below the maximum limit of 10 % of the global sales that the EU could impose. Apple plans to make an appointment against the decision, while Meta criticizes the punishment as politically motivated and refers to their time in connection with transatlantic trade talks.

The Digital Markets Act in the background

The Digital Markets Act is an EU regulation that has been in force since November 1, 2022. This set of rules aims to make the digital economy more fair and more competitive by specifying large companies not to exploit their market power. The regulation is particularly aimed at digital platforms that are classified as a "gatekeeper". In September 2023, 22 services of six companies, including Apple and Meta, were identified as "core platform services".

These companies must comply with all provisions of the DMA by March 6, 2024, which include the ban on the combination of data from different services and the protection of business users. If you are not complied with, you face sanctions, including fines of up to 10 % of the global sales, which strongly underlines the enforcement of the DMA.

The EU Commission has the authority to carry out market investigations and to monitor compliance with the regulations. These measures signaled the EU's determination of regulating Big Tech's practices and ensuring fair competition in the digital markets. The current procedure against Apple and Meta shows that the EU is ready to enforce its specifications and ensures interesting developments in the digital economy worldwide.

Developments in the context of the Digital Market Act could also have international effects, since other countries consider similar regulations to regulate the influence of tech giants.