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Sources briefed on discussions with the European Commission say Apple and Meta could be on the verge of resolving their high-profile antitrust disputes in the EU. If true, both companies would sidestep heavier penalties and daily fines that can climb into the millions.
What the talks are about — and why they matter
The report, citing unnamed European officials speaking to the Financial Times, says there is "growing optimism" that workable remedies can be found. For Meta, regulators are focused on its so-called "pay-or-consent" approach: users must either accept extensive tracking or pay a subscription to avoid it. The company has already been fined €200 million over that practice.
For Apple, the spotlight has shifted to its App Store agreements. The company announced policy changes in June to address earlier concerns, but the European Commission is continuing a separate probe into Apple’s contractual terms with developers.
Key sticking points and possible outcomes
The most sensitive remaining issue for Meta appears to be transparency and accessibility — regulators want EU users to be able to clearly find and navigate all of Meta's options without confusion or hidden nudges. For Apple, commissioners are assessing whether contractual rules still give the company unfair leverage over app developers.
- Meta’s central problem: balancing business models based on data with EU privacy and competition rules.
- Apple’s focus: whether developer contracts restrict competition or steer users unfairly.
- Potential reward: both companies could avoid daily penalties that can reach up to 5% of average daily worldwide revenue.
So what's next?
The European Commission has not issued final decisions. But people familiar with the talks are reportedly hopeful a settlement will come soon. If the companies reach agreements with EU regulators, fines could be reduced or avoided entirely — and the intense scrutiny on their business models may ease.
Why should readers care? These cases could reshape how major tech platforms handle user privacy, subscriptions, and developer relationships across Europe. Changes agreed upon by Apple and Meta would set precedents that affect millions of users and thousands of businesses operating in the EU.
Source: gsmarena
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