EC fines Apple about $570 million for allegedly violating the Digital Markets Act
The European Commission has fined Apple and Meta with €500 million (about US$570 million) and €200 million (about $230 million) respectively(about US$570 million) for violating the Digital Markets Act (DMA).
When it comes to Apple, the EC — the executive arm of the European Union — claims that, under the DMA, app developers distributing their apps via Apple’s App Store should be able to inform customers, free of charge, of alternative offers outside the App Store, steer them to those offers and allow them to make purchases. The EC alleges that Apple fails to comply with this obligation.
“Due to a number of restrictions imposed by Apple, app developers cannot fully benefit from the advantages of alternative distribution channels outside the App Store. Similarly, consumers cannot fully benefit from alternative and cheaper offers as Apple prevents app developers from directly informing consumers of such offers,” the EC says. “The company has failed to demonstrate that these restrictions are objectively necessary and proportionate.”
As part of today’s decision, the EC has ordered Apple to remove the technical and commercial restrictions on steering and to refrain from perpetuating the non-compliant conduct in the future, which includes adopting conduct with an equivalent object or effect.
Apple said it plans to appeal the decision, according to MacRumors. The tech giant called it “another example of the commission unfairly targeting the company” with actions that are “bad for the privacy and security of our users.”
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