The European Commission is anticipated to levy a nearly €500 million fine against Apple in March for suspected breaches of EU antitrust rules related to music streaming. This information, reported by the Financial Times, cites five sources close to the antitrust inquiry. The FT notes that the EU will, for the first time, penalize Apple with a 500 million euro charge tied to its music streaming practices.
According to the publication, the investigation began after a 2019 complaint from Spotify, the Swedish streaming platform. Regulators are examining whether Apple’s actions led to higher costs for device users and reduced competition among European streaming services. The preliminary findings highlight that the App Store’s payment system for music content contributes to higher costs for rival platforms, driven by Apple’s 30% commission on streaming content. The EC is also looking at claims that Apple restricted user rights and did not inform users about alternative streaming options, which the commission says breaches EU competition law.
FT sources say the EC has concluded that Apple’s conduct was unlawful and constitutes an abuse of a dominant market position, along with violations of trading terms. If confirmed, the proposed fine would mark Apple’s first antitrust penalty tied to the music streaming sector.
In related matters, there were reports in January about potential penalties for other acts deemed mercenary by some observers, including a fine of 1.1 billion rubles. Previous coverage also noted that Apple, TikTok, and Wikimedia could face fines for failing to remove content that is banned in certain contexts. These items illustrate the broader European and global regulatory spotlight on large digital platforms and their content and payment practices, even as authorities pursue cases involving multiple tech firms.