According to sources familiar with the situation, Apple and Meta Platforms are expected to incur modest penalties for purportedly violating significant rules designed to limit their influence, as reported on Monday.
The European Commission has been scrutinizing both companies since last year for possible infractions of the Digital Markets Act, which permits fines of up to 10 percent of a company’s global annual revenue.
This act, enacted in May 2023, aims to facilitate the transition of users between competing online services such as social media platforms, web browsers, and app stores, and AI apps thereby enabling smaller firms to compete against dominant tech giants.
Sources indicate that the EU antitrust authority is primarily concerned with ensuring compliance with the legislation rather than imposing steep fines, which explains the expected modest nature of the penalties.
Additional factors include the brief period of the alleged infractions—given that the DMA was implemented in 2023—and the current geopolitical context.
Recently, former US President Donald Trump issued a memorandum threatening tariffs on countries that levy fines against US companies. The EU has rejected accusations of targeting American tech giants.
Sources revealed that no final determination has been made regarding the specific amounts of the fines, and developments may still occur. A decision is anticipated this month, as noted by EU antitrust chief Teresa Ribera in a statement to Reuters in February.
The Commission has opted not to comment on the matter.
In a compliance report published last week, Meta asserted that despite its significant efforts to adhere to EU regulations, it continues to receive requests from regulators that exceed the requirements stipulated by law.
Apple’s DMA compliance report, released on March 7, reiterated concerns that the adjustments mandated by the legislation pose increased risks to users and developers, including possibilities for malware, fraud, and scams.
© Thomson Reuters 2025
