A recent report from the Financial Times, citing sources “close to the decisions,” indicates that Apple is anticipated to be “penalized and required to amend its App Store policies” by next week. However, the imposed fines may not be as severe as originally thought, partially due to actions taken by President Trump.
The European Commission experienced a shift in leadership in December, leading to a strategic realignment. The latest report suggests that the new commission is prioritizing “Big Tech companies’ adherence to legal standards rather than focusing on potential substantial fines reaching billions of Euros.”
According to the Digital Markets Act, Apple could potentially incur fines amounting to 10% of its global revenue. While this figure could soar to tens of billions of dollars, the EU is now reportedly looking to set fines that remain below this ceiling.
As per the Financial Times, sources indicate that Apple will likely face “minor fines” for insufficient compliance with the DMA, a resolution influenced in part by the desire to “mitigate rising tensions with US President Donald Trump.”
Trump has consistently criticized the EU’s scrutiny of American tech firms like Apple and Meta. During his campaign, he mentioned that Apple CEO Tim Cook reached out directly to express concerns regarding the company’s disputes with EU regulators. Additionally, Cook contributed $1 million to Trump’s inauguration fund.
Since entering office, Trump has referred to the EU’s penalties as a “form of taxation” and “foreign extortion.” Last month, the Trump Administration issued a directive warning of potential tariffs on European goods to counter the fines imposed on US tech corporations.
In January, the Financial Times reported that the European Union was “re-evaluating its inquiries into tech companies” following Trump’s election. The EU dismissed this claim, stating that “no such review is underway” and that they are simply conducting regular assessments on the status of ongoing investigations.
Today, proposals are being shared with the EU’s 27 member states, with an announcement scheduled for next week.
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