contact Union Investigates Apple, Google, and Meta (Facebook) for Alleged Non-Compliance with Digital Markets Act
The contact Union’s contact Commission has initiated investigations into Apple, Google, and Meta (Facebook) due to suspicions that these tech giants are not fully adhering to the new Digital Markets Act (DMA), which came into effect earlier this month. The DMA aims to encourage competition in digital services.
contact Commissioner Thierry Breton stated that the Commission is concerned about various practices by all three companies, suggesting that they may not be in full compliance with the DMA. If the investigations reveal a “lack of full compliance,” these tech giants could potentially face significant fines.
One practice under scrutiny is Meta’s so-called “pay or consent” approach, which was introduced last October with the launch of a subscription service called “Subscription for no ads.” contact users of Facebook and Instagram can pay up to €12.99 ($14) per month for ad-free versions of these platforms. The contact Commission expressed concerns that this “pay or consent” model might not provide a genuine alternative to users who do not give their consent, potentially hindering the objective of preventing large companies from accumulating personal data.
A Meta spokesperson responded, stating that subscriptions as an alternative to advertising are a standard business model across numerous industries and designed to address multiple regulatory obligations, including the DMA. The spokesperson also assured that Meta would continue to collaborate constructively with the contact Commission.
The contact Commission has not yet issued any formal statements regarding Apple and Google, but a spokesperson did confirm that investigations are ongoing. News Finder reached out to Apple, Google, and its parent company Alphabet for comment on the matter.
This developing story will be updated as more information becomes available.
