The European Commission has decided not to impose immediate fines on Apple and Meta for allegedly violating the Digital Markets Act (DMA). According to a report by Euronews, the tech giants may avoid hefty sanctions for now. A European Union spokesperson said the fines won’t be applied right after the deadline, set for June 26, 2025.
A Temporary Reprieve
This decision is a welcome relief for both companies as they work to address the issues that led to the potential fines. The European Commission has opted for a preliminary analysis instead of automatic fines. The results will be shared with Apple and Meta. If they don’t fix the problems, they’ll still face sanctions.
The DMA, which came into effect in 2023, aims to promote fair competition in the digital market. The European Commission has been investigating Apple’s App Store rules, which allegedly restricted developers from informing customers about alternative offers outside the store. This behavior is considered a clear violation of the DMA.
Previous Fines and Investigations
The European Union had previously fined Apple €500 million for restricting developers from telling customers about cheaper alternatives outside the App Store. The Commission also investigated Meta’s “pay or consent” system, which forced users to pay a subscription fee to avoid targeted ads or consent to data monitoring for advertising purposes.
Some analysts think the potential fines are modest compared to other legal actions against tech giants. The European Commission says its primary goal is to encourage compliance with the DMA, not to punish companies immediately. The Commission is committed to enforcing the legislation, but it’s taking a nuanced approach with Apple and Meta for now.
The decision to hold off on fines gives Apple and Meta a chance to fix their practices and comply with the DMA. The European Commission will continue to monitor their progress and take action if necessary.