Apple has fought for the European Commission on the law on digital markets, since it practically on the day it was first adopted in 2022. The sweeping rules, most of which came into force in 2023, has resulted in major changes for Apple, from wholesale adoption of USB-C charging instead of lightning to a separate version of iOS to the EU to the EU to the EU to the EU.
But the EU has investigated Apple and other so -called “gateguards” in the past year to see if their changes are enough to be in line with the law. When Apple comments, it typically says that the rules are misled or that it believes it is already in line with and agrees to “work with regulators.”
Now the Europe Commission has issued its first major fines in accordance with the law on digital markets and beat Apple with a fine of $ 500 million. € (that’s about $ 570 million in US dollars). Meta was also fined DKK 200 million. EUR.
The version of iOS users comes on their iPhones in the EU is, some will say, superior to what we have in the rest of the world. It allows alternative app stores and app page load (with restrictions), more user control of standard apps, more open payment systems and other changes. As late as March, the EU pointed out several ways in which Apple was still out of compliance with the rules, with specific steps needed to tackle to avoid a fine.
Apple has said it will challenge the fine. In a statement sent to Reuters, the company said:
Today’s messages are another example of the Europe Commission being unfairly aimed at Apple in a number of decisions that are bad for our user’s privacy and security, bad for products and forces us to give away our technology for free.
Apple
About a year ago, Apple was fine of 1.8 B € (about $ 2B) over its previous practice determined to favor Apple Music over Spotify and other rival streaming services-the result of a five-year study that took place for the Digital Market Act.
The Commission has informed Apple that its contract terms regarding alternative app distribution violate DMA. Apple has a comprehensive list of requirements needed to allow apps to be downloaded directly or to alternative app stores and charges a “core technology tax” for those who choose to distribute and make money on their apps outside its ecosystem.
In a press release announcing the fines, the Europe Commission said:
Under DMA, app developers that distribute their apps via Apple’s App Store must be able to inform customers, free of free of the App Store, control them for these offers and allow them to make purchases.
The Commission found that Apple does not comply with this obligation. ….
As part of today’s decision, the Commission has ordered Apple to remove the technical and commercial restrictions on governance and refrain from perpetuating non-compatible behavior in the future, which includes the adoption of behavior with a similar object or effect.
Europe -Commission
Apple and Meta have 60 days to comply with the directives or face the potential for further periodic fines.
The Europe Commission also completed its investigation into Apple’s “Election Obligations,” after what it calls a “constructive dialogue with Apple.” This relates to ensuring that users in the EU can easily uninstall any software applications, change default settings and select their default web browser on iOS. The Commission says Apple’s changes in these areas are in line with DMA.