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Apple takes fight against €500m EU fine to court

Apple took a challenge against EU regulators to Europe's second highest court today after they fined it €500m earlier this year for breaching landmark rules aimed at curbing the power of Big Tech.

Business • 07 Jul

EU tech rules holding back innovation, Google says

Alphabet's Google will today warn EU antitrust regulators and its critics that landmark European Union rules aimed at reining in Big Tech are hampering innovation to the detriment of European users and businesses.

Business • 01 Jul

The fines on Apple and Meta could stoke tensions with US President Donald Trump

Apple fined €500m and Meta €200m for breaching EU law

Apple has been fined €500m and Meta €200m, as EU antitrust regulators handed out the first sanctions under landmark legislation aimed at curbing the power of Big Tech.

Business • 23 Apr

The EU's Digital Markets Act sets out a list of dos and don'ts for tech giants such as Alphabet, Amazon, Apple, Booking.com, ByteDance, Meta Platforms and Microsoft

EU to enforce digital rules irrespective of CEO, location

The European Union is determined to enforce its full digital rule book no matter who is in charge of companies such as X, Meta, Apple and Tiktok or where they are based, Commission President Ursula von der Leyen told Politico.

Business • 22 Apr

Apple's gatekeeper status changed in the EU with the 2022 adoption of the Digital Markets Act, which required Apple to allow alternative app stores

Apple raises concern over first porn app on iPhone

Apple has criticised a pornography app newly available on iPhones in the European Union, saying the bloc's digital policy was undermining consumer confidence in Apple.

Business • 04 Feb

Under the new Digital Markets Act, Google is prohibited from favouring its products and services on its platform

Google proposes fresh tweaks to search results in Europe

Google has proposed more changes to its search results in Europe after some smaller rivals complained about lower traffic to their sites resulting from previous tweaks by the Alphabet unit.

Business • 26 Nov 24

EU regulators charged in June that the iPhone maker had breached the bloc's tech rules - the charge against Apple was the first by the Commission under its Digital Markets Act

Apple set to face fine under EU's Digital Market Act

Apple is set to be fined by the European Union's antitrust regulators under the bloc's landmark rules aimed at reining in the power of Big Tech, making it the first company to be sanctioned, sources with direct knowledge of the matter has said.

Business • 06 Nov 24

The Digital Markets Act, which came into force earlier this year, requires Apple to allow users to set the default web browser of their choice on iPads

EU to assess if Apple's iPad OS complies with tech rules

EU antitrust regulators will assess whether Apple's operating system for iPads comply with the bloc's landmark rules aimed at reining in the power of Big Tech, the European Commission has said.

Business • 04 Nov 24

Epic Games has been in a long-running battle with Apple and Google over the terms and conditions applied to their app stores

Epic Games launches app store to bypass Apple & Google

Fortnite-creator Epic Games has launched its own app store that allows users to bypass the stores run by Apple and Google.

Business • 16 Aug 24

TikTok owner ByteDance has lost its court challenge against its designation as a gatekeeper under new EU tech rules

ByteDance loses challenge against EU gatekeeper label

TikTok owner ByteDance has today lost its court challenge against its designation as a gatekeeper under landmark European Union rules, in a boost for antitrust regulators seeking to curb the power of Big Tech.

Business • 17 Jul 24

Apple's App Store rules breach EU tech rules known as the Digital Markets Act, the EU said today

Apple's App Store rules breach EU tech rules - regulator

Apple's App Store rules breach EU tech rules because they prevent app developers from steering consumers to alternative offers, EU antitrust regulators said today, a charge that could result in a hefty fine for the iPhone maker.

Business • 24 Jun 24

Booking.com has been designated as a 'gatekeeper' under the Digital Markets Act

EU says Booking must comply with strict tech rules

The European Commission said today it had designated hotel reservation website Booking.com as a "gatekeeper", which subjects it to strict EU obligations.

Business • 13 May 24

The EU said that Apple has now six months to ensure full compliance with the Digital Markets Act obligations as applied to the iPad's operating systems

Apple's iPadOS designated as gatekeeper under EU rules

Apple's operating system for iPads has been designated as a gatekeeper under the bloc's landmark tech rules by EU antitrust regulators because of its importance to business users, the European Commission said today.

Business • 29 Apr 24

The EU will investigate Alphabet's rules on steering in Google Play and self-preferencing on Google Search, Apple's rules on steering in the App Store and the choice screen for Safari and Meta's 'pay or consent model'

EU probes Apple, Google, Meta for potential DMA breaches

Apple, Alphabet's Google and Meta Platforms will be investigated for potential breaches of the EU's new Digital Markets Act, European antitrust regulators said today, potentially leading to hefty fines for the companies.

Business • 25 Mar 24

EU's Vestager warns about Apple and Meta fees

EU competition chief Margrethe Vestager has warned Apple and Meta Platforms on their new fees for their services, saying that this may hinder users from enjoying the benefits of the Digital Markets Act which aims to give them more choices.

Business • 20 Mar 24

Apple announced the changes with its App Store to comply with the European Union's Digital Markets Act, which kicked in last week

Apple retreats in fight to defend App Store

Apple has made a major concession in its battle to protect the dominance of its App Store on iPhones and other devices in Europe, saying developers will be free to distribute their apps directly to consumers.

Business • 13 Mar 24

Google has outlined changes to search results and new tools for app developers as part of efforts to comply with new EU tech rules seeking to curb Big Tech's power

Google rolls out changes for users, apps developers

Alphabet's Google has today outlined changes to search results and new tools for apps developers to promote their products on third-party apps and rival app stores as part of efforts to comply with landmark EU tech rules seeking to curb Big Tech's power.

Business • 05 Mar 24

Apple has filed a legal case contesting decisions taken by the European Commission under its new Digital Markets Act

Apple files legal challenge to EU's Digital Markets Act

Apple has filed a legal case contesting decisions taken by the European Commission under its recently-introduced Digital Markets Act, according to a post shared by the Court of Justice of the European Union on X.

Business • 17 Nov 23

TikTok, which has over 134 million monthly users, said it is a challenger, not an incumbent, in digital advertising

TikTok appeals against EU gatekeeper status

TikTok has joined Meta in appealing against the "gatekeeper" status under the Digital Markets Act (DMA), an EU law that brings in tougher rules for tech companies and makes it easier for users to move between competing services.

Business • 16 Nov 23

Microsoft and Google said they will not challenge their new EU 'gatekeeper' status

Microsoft, Google won't challenge EU gatekeeper status

Microsoft and Google will not challenge an EU law requiring them to make it easier for users to move between competing services such as social media platforms and internet browsers.

Business • 14 Nov 23

Companies with over 45 million monthly active users and a €75 billion market capitalisation are considered gatekeepers providing a core platform service in the EU

Big tech firms say they meet EU gatekeeper status

Alphabet's Google, Amazon, Apple, Meta Platforms and Microsoft have notified the European Commission that they qualify as gatekeepers under new EU tech rules, EU industry chief Thierry Breton said today.

Business • 04 Jul 23

Margrethe Vestager has won backing from European Union members and EU lawmakers for the Digital Markets Act

EU rules regulating tech giants to set global standard

Landmark EU rules targeting Alphabet unit Google, Amazon, Apple, Meta and Microsoft are likely to set a global benchmark and may even force the tech giants to be more innovative, lawyers and experts said.

Business • 25 Mar 22

The four companies said they have yet to see positive results from a competition ruling against Google

Google rivals want EU lawmakers to act via new rules

DuckDuckGo and three other search engine rivals to Google have urged EU lawmakers to take action against the Alphabet unit via new tech rules.

Business • 07 Oct 21

Digital Markets Act