Apple is officially appealing a €500 million ($580 million) fine imposed by the European Commission for allegedly violating the EU’s Digital Markets Act (DMA) by restricting app developers from steering users to alternative payment options.
The penalty stems from Apple’s anti-steering practices within the App Store, which the EU says harmed developers and stifled competition. In response, Apple recently announced changes to the App Store in Europe — including allowing alternative payment options and links — aiming to comply with the DMA and avoid further penalties.
In a statement to Bloomberg on Monday, Apple said:
“We believe the European Commission’s decision — and their unprecedented fine — go far beyond what the law requires. As our appeal will show, the EC is mandating how we run our store and forcing business terms which are confusing for developers and bad for users.”
Apple maintains that its App Store policies support both user privacy and security, and says the EU’s ruling interferes with how the company manages its platform.
The appeal comes amid growing regulatory pressure on tech giants in the EU. Apple, Google, Meta, and others are under scrutiny for how they manage app stores, advertising, and user data under the DMA, which officially went into effect in March 2024.
This legal battle is likely to shape how app stores operate across Europe in the future — and how far regulators can go in defining business practices for tech companies.
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