The European Union Commission fought the first serious penalties within the scope of the Digital Markets Law, which was put into effect to establish a more fair structure in digital markets. Apple and Meta were sentenced to 500 and 200 million euros, respectively on the grounds that they did not comply with these new regulations. The Commission stressed that these two technology giant restricts user freedom and prevents competition. The penalties also revealed the determination of the law in the implementation of the law aiming to limit the power of companies in the digital sphere.
At the center of accusations against Apple, the App Store policies are included. The prevention of developers from introducing their payment systems was defined by the European Commission as a clearly defined practice of competition. Apple does not give developers the right to introduce alternative payment methods within the implementation, but also prevents user directing with external connections. According to the Commission, this approach takes the right to free choice.
Apple and Meta have been found to carry out policies limiting user preferences
The criticisms of Meta are based on advertising models on Facebook and Instagram. Users in Europe are forced to accept the use of personal data for advertising purposes or pay for advertising -free version. This model does not offer the user a real option. At this point, the Commission says that platforms do not act in accordance with digital rights.
Although Meta has recently offered users a less personalized ad option, this step has not been seen enough. According to the commission, such arrangements only create a superficial change and do not solve the real issue. Apple claims that stretching in the App Store may threaten user security in its own defense. However, this view does not find much response to the commission.
It has already become clear that both companies will exercise their right to appeal against the penalty. Apple argues that the EU intervenes in technology development processes and risks security. Meta argues that the decisions taken are double standard against American companies. Company representatives think that the European economy will also be adversely affected by such limitations.
The attitude of the commission is quite clear: Every application that limits the user’s preference will not be accepted in the digital market. For this reason, Apple is expected to remove developer restrictions and make Meta’s policy of data use transparent. The time given for the adaptation process is only 60 days. If the necessary steps are not taken at the end of the process, companies may face heavier sanctions.
These penalties are not surprising to consider the past of Apple and Meta in Europe. Apple was previously sentenced to 1.84 billion euros on Spotify’s complaint. Meta also faced high penalties on different dates, data transfers and combining services. In other words, these latest decisions should be considered as the new rings of a wider audit process.
On the other hand, these developments affect not only companies, but also the entire digital market structure. The European Commission’s clear and determined stance against technology giants paves the way for the establishment of a more balanced digital ecosystem for small entrepreneurs and users. Nevertheless, the reaction of global technology companies to these decisions will determine the scope of the regulations in the coming period. In particular, digital trade balances between the US and Europe may be directly affected by this process.