Blocking App Store Competition: EU Hits Apple With $570M Fine

Apple’s $570M Reality Check Here

Apple just got a €500 million wake-up call from the EU for violating the Digital Markets Act (DMA). At the heart of it? Anti-steering practices. The tech titan blocked developers from guiding users to better deals outside the App Store, breaking the DMA’s rulebook on fair play and consumer choice.

Despite attempts to dodge the rules with workaround terms, Apple still took a cut, even when developers linked to external stores. Now, the EU demands a full stop: remove all restrictions and don’t even think about repeating the stunt. Apple has 60 days to clean up or face rolling penalties.

Epic Weighs In

Epic Games cheered the ruling, urging other global regulators—from the UK to Brazil—to follow suit. They say it’s time to break Apple’s grip on digital markets and restore real choice and innovation.

Meta’s €200M Blow

Meanwhile, Meta’s been fined €200 million ($214M) for a flawed “pay-or-share-data” model on Facebook and Instagram. The EU says users weren’t properly offered a low-data alternative, violating the DMA’s spirit of informed consent.

Meta’s response? Not happy. The company fired back, accusing the EU of bias against successful U.S. firms and slamming the decision as a hit to both their business and European advertisers.

Big Tech, Big Trouble

With the DMA flexing its muscles, the message is clear: the EU’s not playing. Compliance isn’t optional—and Big Tech better keep up or pay up.