EU to fine Apple and Meta - Commission decisions risk escalating tensions with the US
The European Commission is expected to fine Apple and Meta this week for violating EU digital competition rules, drawing the big companies into the trade war between the United States and the European Union.
The EU executive is set to announce the results of three-year investigations into breaches of the bloc's Digital Markets Act, two for Apple and one for Meta. Both companies are expected to face fines, with announcements expected by the end of the week.
Last month, United States President Donald Trump declared that the Digital Trade Act, which sets rules for how technology companies must operate in the European market, would be scrutinized and could lead to reciprocal tariffs.
While the Act's decision is technically overseen by the Commission's competition directorate, the broader trading environment has influenced the EU's planning for the communication and timing of decisions, a person briefed on the matter said.
Trade Commissioner Maroš Šefčovič traveled to Washington last week to hold discussions on the trade conflict between the US and the EU.
Apple met with Šefčovic's chief of staff earlier this month to lobby the company's views and discuss the Act.
Spotify, one of the leading campaigners against Apple's rules under investigation, also met with DG TRADE officials earlier this month to discuss digital law.
However, while threats from Washington are a factor, they are not the most important consideration when imposing fines, according to a person familiar with the Commission's thinking. Other factors, particularly the novelty of the regulation, are more important, they said.
The EU executive is expected to fine Apple for its developer rules that prevent them from communicating offers to iPhone users, according to people familiar with the matter. In parallel, a separate investigation into Apple's default settings is expected to be concluded, after changes made by the iPhone maker last year have won a positive response from competing developers.
Meanwhile, Meta will face a fine for imposing terms and conditions on users for the use of their personal data that are in violation of the Digital Markets Act.
Commissioner Teresa Ribera, who is responsible for the Commission's competition department, will travel to Washington this week to attend an annual global meeting. Ribera will meet with her counterparts at the US Department of Justice and the Federal Trade Commission on Wednesday.
Despite trade tensions, EU officials have stressed that there continues to be broad alignment between the US government and the bloc to continue enforcing rules against Big Tech.
The US Federal Trade Commission will go to trial next month in a case against Meta, while the government's antitrust lawsuit against Apple has continued under Trump.
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