The EU plans to impose minimal fines on US companies Apple and Meta next week in the hope of avoiding new conflicts with US President Donald Trump, the British newspaper Financial Times reported, citing its sources.
“This is a crucial test for the European Commission. Further attacks on US technology companies will increase transatlantic tensions and provoke retaliation, and ultimately member states and European companies will bear the costs“, said a spokesman for the American company.
Apple will be obliged to review the rules of its internal digital store AppStore, which allegedly prohibit developers from collaborating with other platforms.
The investigation into the pressure to use the Safari web browser on users is also expected to be closed. Meta will be fined for its policy of requiring users to consent to their personal data being tracked unless they pay to turn off in-app ads. It is noted that these decisions are not final and may change by the time the fines are announced.