EU imposes record buses against Apple and Meta - the end of the dominance?

EU imposes record buses against Apple and Meta - the end of the dominance?

EU, Europa - On April 23, 2025, the EU Commission imposed fines against the tech giants Apple and Meta. Apple has to pay a penalty of 500 million euros, while Meta was borne by 200 million euros. These measures are the first sanctions that were imposed on the Digital Markets Act (dma). The Digital Markets Act, which was accepted on September 14, 2022, aims to restrict the power of large technology companies and to facilitate smaller competitors.

The punishments that go back to a one-year investigation by the EU antitrust authorities are based on various violations of the companies. Apple is accused of preventing App developers from making consumers available outside of the app store. Meta, on the other hand, received his punishment based on a “pay-or consent” model that is not compatible with the EU legal regulations. Facebook and Instagram users had to choose between a paid advertising version and a free variant with personalized advertising.

reactions of companies

Apple plans to legally contest the punishment imposed and describes the decisions of the Commission as unfair. The company argues that it is put under pressure to provide technology free of charge. It is also noted that the EU Commission repeatedly postpones its targets, which Apple feels unjust. The possible effects of these punishments on the customs dispute between the USA and the EU are also discussed, but the EU Commission emphasizes that the procedures remain independent of these tensions.

Meta also reacted to the decision after it introduced a new version of its free model in November 2024 that uses less personal data. The punishment for Meta refers to the period between March 2024 and November 2024, while Apple achieved sales of almost $ 400 billion in the past year, but Meta, however, of around $ 165 billion.

context of the Digital Market Act

The Digital Markets Act, which came into force on May 2, 2023, defines "Gatekeeper" as a company that offer essential platform services and are therefore subject to strict requirements. This includes online placement services, search engines, social networks and advertising services. Gatekeeper must ensure that they do not pursue unfair practices that restrict the competitive conditions and grant the transparency of their online advertising services.

The current fines could thus represent an important precedent and show how serious the EU takes the enforcement of its new regulations in the digital sector. These developments are also observed in the light of Ider political tensions between the USA and the EU, where US President Donald Trump already threatened to punish the American companies with tariffs.