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Cnn
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The European Union inflicted a fine on Apple and a combined meta-one of 700 million euros ($ 797 million) during the first application of its historic digital competition law.
Penalties for the violation of the law on digital markets came in the midst of attacks against the EU by the Trump administration for what it considers the unjust targeting of the block towards American companies.
The European Commission, the EU executive branch, said on Wednesday that it had inflicted a fine of Apple (AAPP) and the owner of Facebook Meta (META) respectively respectively.
Joel Kaplan, Meta World Affairs Director, criticized the EU’s decision, accusing him of “trying to handicap successful American companies”.
“It is not only a fine; the commission forces us to change our business model effectively imposes a price of several billion dollars on Meta while forcing us to offer a lower service,” added Kaplan.
During a one -year investigation, the European Commission noted that, for a period of last year, META had not given users the possibility of using versions of its platforms which process less of their personal data without paying costs.
In November 2023, the company adopted an advertising model “Consent or Pay”, which forced European Facebook and Instagram users for consent to “combination of personal data” for personalized advertising or to pay versions without advertising platforms.
A year later, Meta introduced another free personalized advertising model, which indicates “less personal data” processes, noted the European Commission, adding that it is currently evaluating if the new model is in accordance with its rules.
The commission also noted that Apple had broken the so -called “management” rule in the DMA. Under the rule, application developers distributing their applications via the Apple App Store should be able to inform customers for free, alternative offers outside the store, orient them towards them and allow them to make purchases.
Due to a number of restrictions imposed by the American technology giant, “consumers cannot fully benefit from alternative and cheaper offers,” the European Commission said in a statement.
An Apple representative said the fine is “another example of the European Commission is unjustly targeting” the company and forcing it to “give (its) technology for free”. He added that he was planning to appeal the decision.
“We have spent hundreds of thousands of hours of engineering and made dozens of changes to respect this law, which our users have requested. Despite countless meetings, the Commission continues to move objective positions at each stage,” said the representative.
The size of Apple and Meta’s respective fines reflects the “gravity and duration” of the violations of DMA companies, said the European Commission, adding that they have to pay the fines within 60 days or risk additional financial sanctions.
This is a story in development and will be updated. James Frater contributed the reports.
