Apple and Meta Platforms are poised to incur fines of a modest nature for purported violations of significant regulations aimed at curbing their market dominance, according to individuals familiar with the situation who spoke on Monday.
The European Commission has scrutinized both companies since last year for possible infringements of the Digital Markets Act, which has the potential to impose penalties amounting to 10 percent of a company’s global annual revenue.
Enforced since May 2023, the act is designed to facilitate easier transitions between various online services, including social media platforms, web browsers, and app stores, thereby promoting competition for smaller firms against major tech entities.
Sources indicate that the EU’s antitrust authority is prioritizing compliance assurance over punitive measures, which underpins the decision to impose relatively light penalties.
Additional factors include the brief timeframe of the reported infractions, with the DMA having only recently come into effect, as well as the current geopolitical context.
Last month, former US President Donald Trump issued a memorandum threatening tariffs on nations that impose fines on American companies. The EU has dismissed claims of targeting US tech giants.
Final determinations regarding the fines have yet to be made, and the outcome remains subject to change. A resolution is anticipated within this month, aligning with comments made by EU antitrust chief Teresa Ribera to Reuters earlier in February.
The Commission opted not to provide further comments on the matter.
In a compliance report released last week, Meta stated that, despite its efforts to align with EU regulations, it continues to face requests from regulators that exceed what is stipulated in the law.
Apple’s compliance report, dated March 7, echoed concerns that the changes mandated by the law present heightened risks to users and developers, including increased opportunities for malware, fraud, and scams.
© Thomson Reuters 2025
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