European Union imposed its first fines under the Digital Markets Act (DMA), penalizing Apple and Meta a combined €700 million for antitrust violations
Apple's ₹45,250 crore Fine
Apple was fined ₹45,250 crore (€500 million) for restricting app developers from directing users to alternative services outside the App Store, a practice known as "anti-steering." This limitation hindered competition and consumer choice. The European Commission has also issued a cease-and-desist order, requiring Apple to make further product changes by late June. Failure to comply could result in additional daily penalties.
Meta's ₹18,100 crore Fine
Meta received a ₹18,100 crore (€200 million) fine for its "pay or consent" advertising model on Facebook and Instagram. This system required users to either accept personalized ads or pay for an ad-free experience, violating user consent and data privacy provisions of the DMA.
These enforcement actions underscore the EU's commitment to regulating digital markets and ensuring fair competition among tech giants.