The European Commission announced on April 23, 2025 that it had fined Apple 500 million euros and Meta 200 million euros for breaching obligations under the Digital Markets Act, the EU law that imposes special conduct rules on the largest digital “gatekeeper” platforms.
The Commission found Apple breached the DMA's anti-steering obligation, which requires gatekeepers to let app developers tell customers about cheaper deals outside the App Store and direct them there without restriction. Meta was found to have breached the DMA's requirement to offer users a genuine choice between a personalized, ad-funded service and one that uses less of their personal data, after the company introduced a “pay or consent” model on Facebook and Instagram.
Why it matters
These were the Commission's first fines under the DMA, which took full effect for designated gatekeepers in March 2024. They signal how aggressively Brussels intends to enforce a law meant to open up mobile app distribution and curb self-preferencing by Apple, Google, Meta, Amazon and Microsoft, and they set precedents for interpreting vague terms like “genuine choice” and “free of charge” that other gatekeepers will have to navigate.
How the rule works
The DMA lets the Commission fine gatekeepers up to 10% of global annual turnover for a first infringement, rising to 20% for repeat violations, far above the amounts levied against Apple and Meta so far. Separately, in March 2025 the Commission adopted specification decisions under Article 8 giving Apple more detailed guidance on how to open iOS to interoperability with third-party devices and software, alongside the anti-steering enforcement action against the App Store's Article 5(4) obligations.
Evidence
The Commission's official case file, published under Case DMA.100109 concerning Apple's App Store anti-steering practices, dates the infringement decision to April 23, 2025, alongside a parallel case addressing Apple's iOS interoperability obligations under Article 6(7) decided March 19, 2025,.
The competing read
The Commission has described the fines as proportionate responses to clear violations of rules gatekeepers have known about since 2022. Apple has said the fine and the associated behavioral requirements are unfair, arguing EU regulators are forcing it to give away features for free and expose users to security risks, while Meta has argued that its subscription alternative already satisfies the DMA's consent requirements and has said it will appeal. Both companies have signaled they will challenge the decisions before the EU's General Court, a process that can take years.
What happens next
Appeals from Apple and Meta are expected to work through the EU courts over the next several years, while the Commission continues separate compliance investigations into other gatekeeper practices, including Apple's browser-choice screens and Amazon's marketplace ranking. Additional fines or periodic penalty payments are possible if the Commission finds either company has not corrected the underlying conduct.