The European Commission has recognized that Apple and Meta violated the Digital Markets Act (DMA) requirements and fined them EUR 700 million: Apple for €500 million and Meta for €200 million.
According to the DMA, app developers who distribute their products through the App Store have the right to inform users about alternative offers outside the store for free and provide the opportunity to make purchases outside the Apple ecosystem.
However, the European Commission found that Apple imposes a number of restrictions that prevent developers and consumers from fully taking advantage of alternative distribution channels or cheaper offers and ordered Apple to remove the restrictions that prevent the implementation of mechanisms for free user information.
As for Meta, according to the DMA, large online platforms are required to obtain user consent to combine personal data from different services. If the user disagrees, they must be provided with an alternative version of the service that uses less personal data. In November 2023, Meta introduced an “opt-in or opt-out” model, where users could either agree to personalized advertising or pay a monthly subscription for an ad-free version.
The European Commission concluded that such a model was not in line with the DMA, as it did not give users a real choice.
Apple and Meta must comply with the European Commission’s decision within 60 days; otherwise, they will face fines.