Weight-Loss Drug Ads Take Over the Super Bowl as Pharma Embraces Direct-to-Consumer Marketing 
Toyota’s Surprise CEO Change Signals Strategic Shift Amid Global Auto Turmoil 
Rio Tinto Shares Hit Record High After Ending Glencore Merger Talks 
Missouri Judge Dismisses Lawsuit Challenging Starbucks’ Diversity and Inclusion Policies 
Illinois Joins WHO Global Outbreak Network After U.S. Exit, Following California’s Lead 
Pentagon and Anthropic Clash Over AI Safeguards in National Security Use 
TrumpRx Website Launches to Offer Discounted Prescription Drugs for Cash-Paying Americans 
Nvidia, ByteDance, and the U.S.-China AI Chip Standoff Over H200 Exports 
Nvidia Nears $20 Billion OpenAI Investment as AI Funding Race Intensifies 
Panama Supreme Court Voids Hong Kong Firm’s Panama Canal Port Contracts Over Constitutional Violations 
Trump Allows Commercial Fishing in Protected New England Waters 
Trump Orders DHS to Avoid Protests in Democratic Cities Unless Federal Assets Are Threatened 
ICE Blocked From Entering Ecuador Consulate in Minneapolis During Immigration Operation 
Trump Signs “America First Arms Transfer Strategy” to Prioritize U.S. Weapons Sales 
Trump Proposes Two-Year Shutdown of Kennedy Center Amid Ongoing Turmoil 
Apple and Meta Platforms (NASDAQ:META) have been fined €500 million ($570 million) and €200 million respectively by the European Commission for breaching the EU’s Digital Markets Act (DMA), a regulation designed to limit the dominance of tech giants and promote fair competition.
According to the Commission, Apple (NASDAQ:AAPL) failed to comply with DMA requirements by restricting App Store developers from freely informing users about alternative purchasing options outside the App Store. This limitation prevented consumers from accessing potentially cheaper offers, undermining competition and consumer choice.
Meta’s penalty stems from its “Consent or Pay” model on Facebook and Instagram, which forces EU users to either consent to personalized data use across both platforms or pay for an ad-free experience. The Commission determined this model failed to offer users a genuinely equivalent alternative that used less personal data, violating their right to freely consent.
Both companies have been issued cease-and-desist orders. While EU regulators can impose penalties of up to 10% of global revenue, the current fines remain well below that threshold. Apple plans to appeal the decision, arguing the ruling compromises user privacy and security and unfairly demands free access to proprietary technology. Meta criticized the penalty as a politically motivated move targeting U.S. firms, pointing to the timing of the announcement around recent transatlantic trade talks.
The enforcement of the DMA signals the EU’s intent to curb Big Tech’s influence and protect competition in digital markets. As regulatory scrutiny intensifies, global tech firms may need to reevaluate their business practices across Europe.
