- The EU does not fine Apple and Meta yet after starting DMA probes in March.
- Officials say more time is needed to gather facts before making a decision.
What happened: EU holds back fines as Apple and Meta face scrutiny under DMA
The European Commission did not fine Apple or Meta right away. It started looking into both companies in March 2024. For Apple, the problem is how it runs the App Store. Officials are checking if Apple still stops app makers from telling users about cheaper options outside the App Store. For Meta, the focus is its “pay or consent” choice. This model tells users to either agree to tracking or pay for a version with no ads.
The Digital Markets Act says big tech companies must follow rules that make things fair for others. If they break these rules, they can be fined up to 10% of what they earn in a year. The EU has the power to use these fines. Right now, it has chosen not to do that. It wants to keep checking the facts first. This shows the EU wants to be sure before it takes strong action.
Also Read: EU cracks down on Apple and Meta over DMA violations
Also Read: EU fines Apple and Meta $799M over tech rule breaches
Why this is important
This move shows the EU wants to go step by step before using the power the DMA gives it. Some people say this helps build a stronger case. Others say waiting too long gives big tech companies time to avoid change. Apple and Meta are both very large in the tech world. Many small firms need Apple’s App Store to reach users. Meta also collects a lot of data from users, which some people and groups already worry about.
Spotify and other firms have said Apple’s App Store rules are not fair. Earlier this year, the EU fined Apple $1.95 billion after Spotify made a complaint about this source. Privacy groups like noyb have said Meta’s data model is not good. They believe people should not be made to choose between money and privacy. What happens with Apple and Meta could shape what the EU does next with companies like Google and Amazon.
