EU denies claims of delayed fines against tech giants due to Trump pressure
The European Union (EU) has strongly refuted claims that it is postponing fines against major technology corporations, including Apple and Meta, due to concerns over former U.S. President Donald Trump's potential reaction. Reports have circulated since January 2025, suggesting that the European Commission is intentionally delaying significant decisions to observe Trump's influence following his return to politics. This was further complicated by allegations that a scheduled announcement of fines against Apple was scrapped to avoid friction during trade discussions with Trump.
European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen reaffirmed the EU's commitment to enforcing the Digital Markets Act (DMA) against any offending company, regardless of its country of origin or political connections. In her responses to inquiries about the EU’s policy direction, she stated, "The rules that have been approved by lawmakers must be enforced". She emphasized that cases against companies such as TikTok, X, Apple, and Meta have been initiated as part of this enforcement.
Despite these assertions, recent reports indicate that the fines imposed on large tech firms may be considerably less than the statutory maximum of up to 10% of their global annual revenue, which could result in penalties reaching billions for companies such as Apple. This speculation raises concerns that both U.S.-EU trade relations and recent shifts in European Commission leadership may be influencing a softer regulatory approach.
The new leadership appears more inclined to focus on implementing technical measures associated with the DMA rather than imposing significant financial penalties. This has led to uncertainty regarding the EU’s resolve to combat alleged abuses of market dominance by technology giants, with no specific timeline provided for when fines will be announced or their potential amounts.
The EU is one of the pioneering jurisdictions in introducing stringent regulations against big tech companies, while many other countries are still developing their strategies. However, the assertion that the EU maintains a neutral stance regarding the origins of firms raises eyebrows, given past instances where the EU has been perceived as favoring European companies, such as Spotify, over Apple. As global political, economic, and diplomatic dynamics evolve, the world is keenly observing how the European Commission will navigate these challenges in its enforcement of digital regulations against technology firms.
