Reuters: The European Union plans to fine Apple for violating the Digital Markets Act
Apple is expected to face a fine in the European Union, according to Reuters sources. The agency reports that the European Commission has decided to impose a fine on the corporation for suppressing competition on iOS, which constitutes a violation of the Digital Market Act (DMA).
Reuters writes that the fine will be “modest,” though its exact amount is unknown. Notably, the maximum possible initial fine for violating the DMA is 10% of the company’s global annual turnover.
Reuters sources indicated that the European Commission wishes to limit itself to a small fine for several reasons. Firstly, the regulator's goal is to ensure that the corporation adheres to the DMA in the future rather than focus on imposing sanctions. Secondly, the European Commission is taking into account that the law only came into effect in May 2023 and the period of infringement was relatively short. It is also considering the geopolitical situation.
Reuters added that the European Commission may still change its decision. It is reportedly planning to officially announce it by the end of March.
For reference: the European Commission preliminarily found Apple guilty of violating the DMA back in June 2024. At that time, it stated that a final verdict would be delivered by March 25, 2025.