The EU on Wednesday fined Apple and Meta more than 700 million euros for breaking digital competition rules, risking the wrath of US President Donald Trump.
The penalties threaten to cause more tension in the already fraught relationship between the bloc and Trump, as the two sides discuss a deal to avoid his sweeping tariffs on the EU.
The European Commission slapped Apple with 500 million euros ($570 million) after concluding the company prevented developers from steering customers outside its App Store to access cheaper deals.
The Commission also fined Meta 200 million euros over its “pay or consent”; system after it violated rules on the use of personal data on Facebook and Instagram.
The fines are the first under the Digital Markets Act, DMA, which came into effect last year, forcing the world’s biggest tech firms to open up to competition in the EU.
They could rise further if Meta and Apple fail to comply within 60 days, the commission said, threatening the US giants with “periodic penalty payments”;.
The 27-nation bloc bolstered its legal arsenal over the past two years with major twin laws, the Digital Services Act and the DMA.
However, since Trump’s return to the White House, there have been concerns that the EU would shy away from enforcing them.
Trump frequently slammed the EU over its digital laws and taxes, claiming they are “non-tariff barriers”; to trade, and many tech CEOs have aligned with his administration.
The Republican has imposed 25 per cent tariffs on steel, aluminium and auto imports from the EU, which Brussels hopes he will lift after an agreement.
Antitrust commissioner Teresa Ribera said in a statement the fines “send a strong and clear message”;, insisting the bloc had taken “firm but balanced enforcement action”;.
