Brussels: The European Union has levied a combined €700 million (nearly $800 million) in fines on tech giants Apple and Meta for violating its newly enforced Digital Markets Act (DMA).
Apple faces a €500 million ($570 million) fine for limiting how app developers can inform users about alternative purchasing options outside its App Store- a practice the EU deems restrictive and anti-competitive.
Meta, meanwhile, was handed a €200 million ($230 million) penalty over its contentious “pay or consent” model, which gives users in the EU a binary choice: pay for ad-free access to Facebook and Instagram or consent to data tracking and personalized ads.
The penalties were announced after a year-long investigation by the European Commission (the EU’s executive arm) into whether tech gatekeepers were adhering to the DMA, which officially came into force in 2023.
The legislation aims to create a fairer digital playing field by placing strict obligations on large digital platforms that dominate online markets.
Today, we’ve fined Apple and Meta for breaching the #DMA.
Apple restricts developers from informing customers about offers outside the App Store, while Meta doesn’t give consumers the choice of a service that uses less of their personal data.
More info: https://t.co/dhK04KI4sn pic.twitter.com/xxz7D56ohN
— European Commission (@EU_Commission) April 23, 2025
“This is about ensuring fairness and freedom of choice,” said an EU official involved in the decision.
In addition to the fine, Apple received a cease-and-desist order requiring it to make sweeping changes to its App Store policies by late June.
If it fails to comply, the Commission may impose daily fines. Meta’s case remains under scrutiny, as officials evaluate whether recent modifications to its ad-consent model meet the required standards.
Both companies have strongly criticized the EU’s decision. The fines, though substantial is lower than previous antitrust penalties under older EU rules.
Meta is expected to appeal the Commission’s ruling, while Apple may soon face further scrutiny over the implementation of the cease-and-desist order.
