Apple has been fined €150 million ($162.42 million) by French antitrust regulators for allegedly abusing its dominant position in mobile app advertising between 2021 and 2023. The fine is the first to be imposed on Apple over its App Tracking Transparency (ATT) tool.
While the tool, which allows iPhone and iPad users to control app tracking, is not criticised itself, the French competition watchdog claimed its implementation was excessive and not proportional to its goal of protecting personal data.
The French regulators stated that ATT particularly harmed smaller publishers, who rely heavily on third-party data for their business. Despite the fine, Apple was not required to modify the ATT tool.
The decision follows complaints from online advertisers, publishers, and internet networks, who accused Apple of misusing its market power. Apple expressed disappointment with the fine but noted that no changes to the tool were mandated.
The fine comes after a €1.8 billion penalty last year from the EU, which accused Apple of restricting music streaming competitors. Additionally, the German antitrust agency has launched a probe into Apple for allegedly giving itself preferential treatment with the same privacy tool.
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The European Commission has announced plans to invest €1.3 billion in artificial intelligence, cybersecurity, and digital skills development under the Digital Europe Programme for the period 2025 to 2027.
The funding aims to strengthen Europe’s position in advanced technologies and ensure that citizens and businesses can benefit from secure and cutting-edge digital tools.
Henna Virkkunen, the European Commission’s digital chief, emphasised the importance of the initiative, stating that European tech sovereignty depends on both technological innovation and the ability of people to improve their digital competences.
The investment reflects a strategic commitment to ensuring Europe remains competitive in the global digital landscape.
The Digital Europe Programme has been central to the EU’s digital transformation agenda. Through this latest funding round, the EU seeks to further enhance its technological resilience, support innovation, and prepare the workforce for the demands of a fast-evolving digital economy.
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EU Tech Commissioner Henna Virkkunen has voiced support for using a Regulation, rather than a Directive, in the upcoming Digital Networks Act.
She says this would ensure consistent implementation across all member states, avoiding the patchwork seen under current telecom rules.
Virkkunen also hinted at easing merger rules and reducing ex-ante regulation within the existing framework, the European Electronic Communications Code.
These changes, she noted, could encourage investment and help the EU meet its goal of full 5G and fibre coverage by 2030.
She criticised slow national efforts to phase out high-risk Chinese components from 5G networks, calling for stronger action.
Her stance follows pressure from MEPs concerned about ongoing cybersecurity risks and lack of enforcement.
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The latest draft of the EU AI Act’s Code of Practice offers a more flexible approach to copyright rules, focusing on proportionate compliance based on a provider’s size and capabilities.
However, this change comes as model providers face looming deadlines under the Act.
AI Developers must still avoid training on pirated content, respect opt-outs like robots.txt, and make reasonable efforts to prevent models from repeating copyrighted material.
However, they are no longer expected to perform exhaustive copyright checks on every dataset.
With potential fines of up to 15 million euros or 3% of global turnover, stakes remain high. Still, stakeholders welcome the clearer, more practical path to compliance, with final feedback on the draft due by the end of this month.
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WhatsApp has gained support from an adviser to the European Court of Justice in its fight against a higher fine imposed by the EU privacy watchdog.
The Irish Data Protection Authority fined WhatsApp 225 million euros ($242.2 million) in 2021 for privacy breaches.
The fine was increased after the European Data Protection Board (EDPB) intervened.
A lower tribunal had rejected WhatsApp’s challenge, saying the company lacked legal standing. However, WhatsApp appealed to the Court of Justice of the European Union (CJEU).
Advocate General Tamara Capeta disagreed with the tribunal, recommending that the case be referred back to the General Court for further review.
The CJEU usually follows the adviser’s recommendations, and a final ruling is expected soon. This case could have significant implications for the fine imposed on WhatsApp.
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The inquiry, launched under the Digital Markets Act (DMA), examined whether Apple’s design restricted users from easily switching to rival browsers or search engines.
Changes implemented by the company have addressed the concerns of the European Commission, leading regulators to conclude the case.
The probe, which began in March last year, was part of the EU’s broader effort to ensure fair competition in digital markets.
Apple made modifications to its browser settings to comply with the new regulations, avoiding potential fines or further legal action. These changes align with the goal of the European Union to prevent dominant technology firms from imposing unfair restrictions on users.
Regulators are expected to officially close the investigation soon, marking a significant step in enforcing the DMA. The outcome highlights the EU’s growing influence over global tech policies, compelling major companies like Apple to adjust their practices to meet stricter competition standards.
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MetaAI, Meta’s AI chat function, is set to launch across Europe after delays caused by regulatory scrutiny regarding the use of personal data to train its models.
The European Commission is reviewing a risk assessment from Meta to ensure that the new feature complies with the EU’s Digital Services Act (DSA). However, this regulation mandates companies to submit risk assessments in advance of deploying new functions.
MetaAI was first launched in the US in September 2023, followed by India in June 2024, and the UK in October.
However, its European rollout was delayed last summer after the Irish Data Protection Commission raised concerns about using data from Facebook and Instagram users for AI training.
Meta faced criticism over Europe’s regulatory approach, with company officials, including CEO Mark Zuckerberg, expressing frustration with the delays.
Despite the regulatory hurdles, Meta is now moving forward with its plans to bring MetaAI to the EU, with the company noting that the process has taken longer than expected due to Europe’s complex regulatory landscape.
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The European Commission has urged EU nations to fund Ukraine’s access to satellite internet through European commercial providers, amid growing concerns over the country’s reliance on Elon Musk’s Starlink.
The call, outlined in a newly published defence white paper, comes as Ukraine faces potential service disruptions unless it agrees to a minerals deal with the US. European satellite operators are now in talks with the EU to explore alternative solutions.
Brussels has proposed granting Kyiv access to the EU’s space programme to ensure stable connectivity for the Ukrainian Armed Forces.
The initiative aims to strengthen Ukraine’s resilience by diversifying its satellite-based services. Poland, which partially funds Ukraine’s Starlink access, has also backed the need for alternative providers.
Spain’s Hisdesat has confirmed plans to expand its coverage over Ukraine, while other European satellite firms, such as Eutelsat and SES, have been approached for potential involvement.
The move reflects Europe’s broader strategy to secure independent infrastructure for Ukraine and reduce dependence on private or non-EU providers.
The Commission’s proposal, if implemented, could mark a significant shift in how Kyiv maintains vital communications during the ongoing conflict.
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Google has been charged with two violations of the EU’s Digital Markets Act (DMA), while Apple has been ordered to allow greater interoperability with rival devices.
The European Commission accused Google of restricting app developers from promoting external offers outside its Play Store and favouring its own services, such as Google Flights, over competitors in search results. If found guilty, the company could face fines of up to 10% of its global annual revenue.
The Commission also directed Apple to make its iPhones and iPads more accessible to rival smartphone and accessory makers. Additionally, Apple must respond to app developers’ requests for interoperability with its systems within a set timeframe.
Both companies pushed back against the EU’s findings, with Google arguing that compliance could harm consumers and businesses, while Apple claimed the rules would slow innovation and unfairly benefit competitors.
Regulators have intensified their crackdown on Big Tech despite warnings from the United States government against targeting American firms.
Google has already been fined over €8 billion for previous antitrust violations in Europe, and failure to comply with the latest orders could lead to further penalties for both tech giants.
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The European Commission has ordered Apple to grant rival smartphone, headphone, and virtual reality companies access to its technology and mobile operating system.
The directive, part of the bloc’s Digital Markets Act, aims to curb the dominance of major tech firms and enhance competition. A separate mandate also requires Apple to establish a structured process for responding to interoperability requests from app developers.
Apple strongly criticised the decision, arguing that it places unfair constraints on its ability to innovate and benefits competitors without imposing the same restrictions on them.
Expressing concerns, the company warned that the new rules could negatively impact its products and European users, adding that the additional regulatory burden might slow progress.
The European Commission, however, dismissed Apple’s objections, stating that the order simply enforces existing laws and provides regulatory clarity.
Failure to comply could result in an investigation and potential fines of up to 10% of Apple’s global annual revenue. The ruling underscores the EU’s determination to rein in the power of Big Tech and ensure a more competitive digital market.
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