EU Slaps Apple and Meta with $800M in Fines, Escalating Digital Showdown with U.S.

The European Union has fined Apple and Meta a combined €700 million (roughly $800 million USD) for breaching the bloc’s Digital Markets Act (DMA), escalating both regulatory pressure and geopolitical friction between Brussels and Washington. Apple was hit with a €500 million fine for violating “anti-steering” rules by preventing app developers from promoting alternative payment options outside the App Store. Meta was fined €200 million for forcing users to consent to data tracking or pay for ad-free versions of Facebook and Instagram.

Apple plans to appeal the fine, calling the decision “unfair” and claiming it undermines user privacy and product quality. Meta, meanwhile, slammed the ruling as a direct attack on American innovation, warning that the Commission’s demands could reshape its entire business model and disrupt personalized advertising in Europe.

The penalties come as trade tensions between the U.S. and EU continue to rise. President Trump recently imposed “reciprocal” tariffs on EU imports, accusing Europe of targeting American tech companies through excessive regulation. With new tech fines and retaliatory tariffs on the table, the clash between Silicon Valley and Brussels is quickly becoming a key flashpoint in global trade relations.