EU hits Apple and Meta with €700m of fines

The European Union has ordered Apple and Meta to pay a combined €700m (£599m) in the first fines it has issued under recent legislation intended to curb the power of big tech

It has issued a €500m (£428m) fine to Apple over its App Store, while Meta has been fined €200m (£171m) over the way it handled user data.

“We have a duty to protect the rights of citizens and innovative businesses in Europe,” Commissioner Henna Virkkunen said in a statement.

The two tech firms have reacted angrily, with Meta accusing the EU of “attempting to handicap successful American businesses” and Apple saying it was being “unfairly targeted” and forced to “give away our technology for free.”

The fines are lower than some of those issued by the EU in the past but – given the heightened economic tensions with America – still risk angering US President Donald Trump.

The US has levied a 10% tariff on imports from the EU, which Trump has accused of “taking advantage” of America.

EU spokesperson Arianna Podesta insisted the matters were “completely separate”, telling the BBC: “This is about enforcement, it’s not about trade negotiations.”

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