The EU Commission wants to file lawsuits against the US technology companies before the summer Apple and Meta to limit their market power, report the Financial Times and the Reuters news agency, citing insiders.
The two US technology companies are suspected of violating the Law for digital markets (Digital Markets Act, DMA). Apple is said to be the first to be charged, with Meta following shortly thereafter.
Law for digital markets
Since the beginning of March, Apple and Meta have had to comply with stricter rules under EU law. However, the Commission apparently has doubts that they are doing so. Apple should it be about the App Store and fees that developers have to pay for pointers to third-party purchasing options.
At Meta According to the report, the EU Commission is opposed to paid subscriptions with non-personalized ads from Facebook and Instagram in the EU. The organization noyb, founded by the Austrian data protection activist Max Schrems, has also already pointed out data protection problems in connection with the paid versions.
According to people familiar with the situation, the EU Commission initially wants preliminary results of their investigations and give the two companies an opportunity to make changes.
If this does not happen, charges could be brought in the coming weeks. If companies fail to comply with EU regulations, they face fines of up to 10 percent of their annual turnover.
The EU Commission had already fined Apple at the beginning of March for abusing its dominant market position in the distribution of music streaming apps to iPhone and iPad users. 1.8 billion euros Apple has appealed the decision.