Brussels (Brussels Morning Newspaper) – EU antitrust chief Teresa Ribera, in an address to European Parliament lawmakers, said that an EU decision on whether Apple and Meta have violated landmark tech regulations aimed at curbing their market power will be issued in the coming weeks.
Since March of last year, the European Commission has been probing Apple and Meta Platforms for possible violations of the Digital Markets Act (DMA). This legislation outlines specific requirements for tech giants to foster competition and enhance consumer choices.
Both companies are expected to face modest fines for DMA violations.
European Commissioner for Competitiveness Ribera, who had previously said that she would issue her decision on Apple and Meta in March, expressed that it would now take a bit longer.
“Decisions could be adopted in the coming weeks,”
She informed lawmakers when questioned about the timing.
“If we do not see a willingness to cooperate, we will not shy away from imposing the fines identified by the law,” said Ribera. Companies that violate the DMA may face fines reaching 10% of their total global revenue. In cases of repeated breaches, this can increase to 20%.
Are Big Tech firms violating Europe’s DMA rules?
In March 2024, the European Commission has initiated proceedings under the Digital Markets Act (DMA) against Alphabet, Apple, and Meta due to concerns that the actions taken by these gatekeepers do not fully meet their obligations under the DMA.
The Commission has initiated proceedings to evaluate whether Apple and Alphabet’s measures concerning their app store obligations violate the DMA. This legislation mandates that gatekeepers permit app developers to direct consumers to external offers outside their app stores, at no cost.
The Commission initiated proceedings against Alphabet due to worries that it favours its own vertical search services, like Google Shopping and Google Hotels, over comparable rival offerings, in violation of the DMA. Additionally, it is pursuing action against Apple, as there are concerns that the design of its web browser choice screen might hinder users from genuinely exercising their service options, which could breach DMA obligations.
Concerning Meta, the Commission has begun an investigation into whether the new “pay or consent” model for EU users aligns with the DMA, which mandates gatekeepers to seek consent from users when they plan to combine or cross-use their personal data.
