In the first real swing of its sweeping new Digital Markets Act, the EU just fined Apple and Meta a combined €700 million—roughly $797 million.
Their crime? Apple made it hard for app developers to steer users toward cheaper deals outside the App Store.
Meta gave users a choice: surrender more personal data or cough up cash for ad-free versions of Facebook and Instagram.
The EU says this isn’t just about user rights—it’s about fair competition.
But Meta’s global affairs chief, Joel Kaplan, isn’t buying it.
“This imposes a multibillion-dollar tariff on Meta,” he snapped, calling the EU’s move an attack on successful American businesses.
What’s Happening?
Apple’s camp echoed the sentiment.
“We’ve bent over backward to follow the rules,” a spokesperson said.
“And now they want us to give away our tech for free?”
With U.S. President Donald Trump already accusing the EU of “screwing” American companies, and tariffs hanging in the balance, tensions are rising.
This isn’t just a regulatory scuffle—it’s a geopolitical chess match.
So, is this about protecting consumers, or just another round of digital tug-of-war between the U.S. and Europe?
Stay tuned—this fight’s far from over.
