⚖️ EU Fines Apple and Meta

Author

Liam Gill
April 26, 2025

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EU Fines Signal Aggressive Enforcement of the Digital Markets Act

The European Union’s recent fines against Apple and Meta—€500 million and €200 million respectively—serve as a clear signal that enforcement of the Digital Markets Act (DMA) is not just theoretical. For Apple, the penalty centers on its refusal to let app developers inform users about cheaper alternatives outside its App Store. Meta’s violation stems from its "pay or consent" model, where users must agree to personalized ads or pay for a subscription. These enforcement actions show the EU’s growing willingness to challenge the core monetization models of major tech platforms—and will likely reshape the regulatory expectations for any company operating in Europe.

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Startups Must Rethink Monetization and Data Practices

For startups, the message is simple: compliance with EU digital rules isn’t just a problem for Big Tech. If your platform relies on in-app payments, targeted advertising, or user data, you need to start planning for the broader ripple effects of these decisions. Smaller platforms are unlikely to face billion-euro fines, but they could find themselves caught in the crosshairs of future complaints, audits, or precedent-setting enforcement. In particular, subscription-based models tied to privacy choices, or app ecosystems with tight payment controls, are now squarely in the spotlight.

Make Compliance a Core Part of Your Product Strategy

Founders operating in or targeting the EU should expect increased scrutiny of business models that limit user choice or rely on default data collection. To prepare, startups should: (1) review consent practices and ad targeting mechanisms under GDPR and DMA frameworks; (2) allow for meaningful user opt-outs without degrading the core experience; and (3) document all efforts to comply with transparency and user rights obligations. With geopolitical tensions rising and enforcement becoming more aggressive, regulatory strategy should no longer be an afterthought—it needs to be baked into your product roadmap from the start.

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