By Global Consultants Review Team
The European Union has fined Apple and Meta, two of the world's largest technology companies, hundreds of millions of dollars, according to Reports.
The bloc has fined Apple $570 million and Meta $228 million as the first sanctions to force tech firms to follow the bloc's rules and limit Big Tech's power. The hefty fines may exacerbate tensions between the EU and the Trump administration, which has previously threatened to levy tariffs on countries that penalize US companies.
The European Union investigated Apple and Meta for more than a year under the Digital Markets Act.
Apple was charged with violating DMA rules because it does not allow users to sideload apps on their iPhones, according to Reuters. Sideloading allows you to download alternative app stores and apps from the web. The EU's competition watchdog has ordered Apple to lift the restrictions that prevent app developers from directing users to cheaper deals outside the App Store.
"Today's announcements are yet another example of the European Commission unfairly targeting Apple in a series of decisions that are bad for our users' privacy and security, bad for our products, and force us to give away our technology for free," Apple said in an emailed statement to Reuters, adding that the company intends to challenge the EU fine.
Meta, on the other hand, was required to give customers the option of using its services without having their personal information combined across the various platforms it owns. However, it failed to do so in accordance with the DMA's rules and was therefore fined.
The EU regulator removed Meta's Marketplace's designation as a DMA gatekeeper because the number of users fell below the required threshold.
In a statement, Meta said, "The European Commission is attempting to handicap successful American businesses while allowing Chinese and European companies to operate under different standards."
The companies have two months to comply with the orders or face fines.
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