Italy’s competition authority (AGCM) has Apple Fined €98.6 million ($115.53 million) for alleged abuse of its dominant position in the mobile app market. The fine also targets two of Apple’s divisions.
According to the regulator, Apple holds “absolute dominance” in its App Store dealings with third-party developers. The AGCM claimed that the company violated European regulations by imposing restrictive privacy policies that harmed developers’ interests.
The investigation, which began in May 2023, focused on Apple’s App Tracking Transparency (ATT) policy. Under this policy, third-party developers were required to obtain explicit consent from users for data collection and advertising purposes. The AGCM said this consent process was imposed unilaterally and forced developers to duplicate requests for the same data.
“The terms of the ATT policy are detrimental to the interests of Apple’s business partners and not proportionate to achieving the privacy objectives claimed by the company,” the regulator said. It added that the process did not comply with European privacy rules.
The probe was complex and conducted in coordination with the European Commission and other international competition authorities. Officials said the investigation reviewed how Apple’s policies affected the app ecosystem, particularly smaller developers.
Apple did not immediately respond to requests for comment regarding the fine. The AGCM said the company’s practices restricted competition in the app market and could set a precedent for similar regulatory actions in Europe.
This is not the first time Apple has faced scrutiny over its App Store policies. Regulators worldwide have raised concerns about how the company enforces its rules, particularly regarding fees, data privacy, and developer restrictions.
With this decision, Italy has sent a strong message to tech giants. The Apple Fined ruling highlights the need for transparency and fairness in the app market, ensuring that developers are treated equitably while protecting user privacy.
In other news read more about: Elon Musk Hits $700 Billion, Becomes World’s Richest Person
The AGCM emphasized that the fine aims to balance privacy goals with fair competition, ensuring that no company uses dominance to disadvantage business partners or limit market access.
