European Commission fines Apple, Meta €700m ($798m) for market violations
The European Commission imposed fines of 500 million euros (570 million dollars) on Apple and 200 million euros (228 million dollars) on Meta, the parent company of Facebook, Instagram, and WhatsApp, on Wednesday. The reason for these fines is the violation of the Digital Markets Act (DMA). The companies now have 60 days to comply with the EC's decision.
Apple was fined for restricting app developers from advertising their products outside the App Store. Developers were not allowed to inform users about alternative distribution channels, which deprived consumers of access to cheaper offers.
Meta, on the other hand, forced users to choose between sharing data for advertising purposes and paying for an ad-free experience. It did not provide users with the option to decide what data would be shared with advertisers.
Apple has been fined 500 million euros (570 million dollars), while Meta is required to pay 200 million euros (228 million dollars). Both companies have 60 days to comply with the European Commission's decision. Failing to do so may result in additional periodic delay fines.
The provisions of the Digital Markets Act (DMA), which will come into effect in March 2024, aim to ensure fair competition in the European Union market.
