Apple and Meta Platforms will likely face charges for failing to comply with landmark EU rules aimed at reining in their power before the summer, three people with direct knowledge of the matter said on Friday.
The European Commission, which launched investigations into
the two companies and Alphabet's Google in March under the Digital Markets Act
(DMA), sees Apple and Meta as priority cases, the people said.
The DMA re”uires Big Tech to open up space for smaller
rivals to compete and make it easier for people to move between competing
online services like social media platforms, internet browsers and app stores.
EU regulators will issue preliminary findings which are
similar to antitrust charges before the summer break in August, with Apple the
first to be charged, followed by Meta, the sources said.
The commission and Meta declined to comment. Apple referred
to its March statement where it said that it was confident that its plan
complies with the DMA and that it continues to constructively engage with the
Commission.
Companies can offer remedies to address concerns laid out in
the findings before a final decision expected before EU antitrust chief
Margrethe Vestager leaves office in November, which could include fines up to
10% of a company’s global annual turnover for breaches.
The EU Investigation targets Apple’s steering rules, which
regulators say impose limitations that hinder app developers from informing
users about offers outside its App Store free of charge, and also its new fees
levied on apps developers.
EU regulators are expected to charge Apple related to this
issue, the people said, adding that a second investigation focusing on its
choice screen for its Safari web browser will likely take more time.
The preliminary finding on Meta focuses on its recently
introduced pay or consent model where users pay a subscription fee for an
ad-free Facebook and Instagram, the people said.
The FT was the first to report that Apple would face EU
charges.