The European Commission has begun investigating Apple, Meta, and Google on suspicion of violating digital market laws, and if it is determined to be malicious, they may be fined up to 20% of global sales.

The EU's European Commission suspects that Google, Apple, and Meta are not complying with antitrust rules under the Digital Markets Act, including anti-steering rules in Google and Apple's app stores and preferential treatment of their own services in Google search. announced that they would begin an investigation. If the investigation confirms that Apple is not in compliance with antitrust laws, Apple could be fined up to 10% of its global revenue, with repeat violations subject to maximum fines. It can increase up to 20%.

Commission opens non-compliance investigations against Alphabet, Apple and Meta under the Digital Markets Act
https://ec.europa.eu/commission/presscorner/detail/en/IP_24_1689

Remarks by Executive-Vice President Vestager and Commissioner Breton on the opening of non-compliance investigations under the Digital Markets Act
https://ec.europa.eu/commission/presscorner/detail/en/speech_24_1702

Apple, Meta, and Google targeted by EU in DMA non-compliance investigations - The Verge
https://www.theverge.com/2024/3/25/24111232/european-commission-digital-markets-act-investigation

Six companies, Alphabet, Amazon, Apple, ByteDance, Meta, and Microsoft, were designated as ``gatekeepers'' by the European Commission in September 2023 and are required to comply with digital market laws.

EU antitrust chief Margrethe Vestager said: 'We suspect that the solutions proposed by (Google's holding company) Alphabet, Apple and Meta do not fully comply with digital market law. We will investigate each company's compliance with the Digital Markets Act to ensure an open and competitive digital market in Europe in the future.'

The following five issues are considered problematic by the European Commission.

・Google and Apple operating rules
The European Commission has pointed out that Google and Apple may be in violation of Article 5, Paragraph 4 of the Digital Markets Act regarding their 'anti-steering rules' that prohibit directing apps outside of their own app stores. Regarding Apple in particular, the European Commission announced in early March 2024 that it would impose a fine of more than approximately 1.8 billion euros (approximately 294 billion yen).

Apple is fined a huge 294 billion yen and ordered by the EU to change App Store rules for violating antitrust laws - GIGAZINE

・Self-preference in Google search
The European Commission has started legal proceedings against Alphabet, Google's holding company, after taking issue with Google's display of its own services, such as Google Shopping and Google Flights, higher than competing services in search results. It makes it clear that.

・Violation of Apple's user selection obligation
Apple is said to have failed in its obligation to give users free choice, such as by making it easy to uninstall apps on iOS, easily change default settings, and displaying a selection screen for users. , the European Commission says it has started legal proceedings against Apple.

・Meta's 'Pay or Consent'
Meta is developing a paid plan in the EU that hides ads on Facebook and Instagram, but there have been complaints from EU consumer groups that this paid plan is expensive.

Europe's largest consumer organization complains about Meta's approach of forcing people to give up personal information or pay money for advertising - GIGAZINE

The European Commission said Meta's approach of forcing consumers to 'pay or consent' did not offer users a real alternative, and that the Digital Markets Act, which prevents gatekeepers from accumulating personal data, did not offer users a real alternative. He said he had started an investigation process as it may not have achieved its objectives.

・Other investigations
The European Commission also found that Amazon may be prioritizing private-label products in its stores, and that new fee structures such as Apple'sCore Technology Fee and terms for alternative app stores violate the Digital Markets Act. It also mentions possibilities.

Gatekeepers can be fined up to 10% of their global turnover if an investigation concludes that they are not complying with the Digital Markets Act. Additionally, repeat violations of the Digital Markets Act may result in fines of up to 20%.

European Commission Commissioner Thierry Breton said: ``Our investigation shows that Apple, Alphabet and Meta's solutions simply do not respect the EU's obligations to fairer and more open digital markets for citizens and businesses.'' If it is concluded that the three gatekeepers are not complying with the Digital Markets Act, they could face significant fines.'