EU to charge Apple under Digital Markets Act, impose a fine of up to $50 million per day

2024-06-15

Back in March, the European Commission announced that it started an investigation relating to Apple"s new fee structure for alternative app stores. Namely, the fact that Apple charges a "Core Technology Fee" for developers who want to "steer" users to offers outside of its App Store. There"s also an additional 3% that goes to Apple if a developer uses its payment processor.

The imposing of such fees onto developers will be found in breach of the EU"s Digital Markets Act (DMA), according to a new report from the Financial Times. This would be the first time a tech company would be charged based on the DMA, which started having effects earlier this year.

EU to charge Apple under Digital Markets Act, impose a fine of up to $50 million per day

An announcement of the charges is allegedly expected in the coming weeks, according to "people familiar with the matter". Apple is facing a fine of up to 5% of its global daily turnover per day for non-compliance. That"s around $50 million per day.

But it won"t necessarily get to that - things are a bit more complicated, since the company could still take actions to correct its practices to the satisfaction of the EC after it announces its preliminary findings in the near future.