Before the August summer break, EU regulators will publish preliminary conclusions, which are similar to antitrust accusations
It is anticipated that Apple and Meta Platforms will face penalties for failing to comply with important EU legislation meant to limit their power before summer, as revealed by three individuals with direct knowledge of the matter, as reported on Friday.
The sources state that Apple and Meta are priority issues for the European Commission, which launched investigations into the two businesses and Alphabet’s Google in March under the Digital Markets Act (DMA).
In order to comply with the DMA, Big Tech must create room for smaller competitors and facilitate users’ switching between rival online services, such as social media sites, web browsers, and app stores.
Before the August summer break, EU investigators are expected to issue preliminary conclusions, which are similar to antitrust accusations. Apple is anticipated to be charged first, followed by Meta, according to sources. Meta declined to comment, as did the Commission. Apple cited its March statement in which it expressed confidence that its proposal conforms with the DMA and said it is still in constructive communication with the Commission.
Businesses can offer solutions to address the issues raised in the findings prior to a final ruling, which is expected to take place before EU antitrust chief Margrethe Vestager leaves office in November. Penalties for violations may reach 10% of an organization’s yearly worldwide turnover.
The EU probe focuses on Apple’s new levies placed on app developers as well as its guiding rules, which authorities claim impose restrictions that hinder developers from notifying customers about deals outside the App Store without charge.
The sources said that a second probe of Apple’s choice screen for the Safari web browser is expected to take more time and that EU regulators expect to prosecute Apple in relation to this subject.
According to the sources, Meta’s recently launched pay or consent model—which allows users to pay a membership fee to use Facebook and Instagram without advertisements—is the focus of the preliminary findings about the company.
