Apple Fined €98.6 Million by Italian Regulators for App Store Anti-Competitive Practices

Italy's competition authority (AGCM) has levied a €98.6 million ($115M) penalty against Apple for abusing its dominant position in the mobile app market. The fine stems from an investigation launched in May 2023, which found Apple imposed discriminatory privacy rules favoring its own services over third-party developers.

The Core issue revolves around Apple's App Tracking Transparency (ATT) framework. While requiring external developers to implement strict user consent protocols, Apple exempted its own apps from equivalent scrutiny. Regulators also noted the company's consent prompts failed to meet EU privacy standards, forcing developers to seek redundant permissions.

This enforcement action highlights growing global scrutiny of Big Tech's gatekeeper power. The ATT system, introduced with iOS 14.5 in April 2021, was ostensibly designed to enhance user privacy by requiring opt-in consent for cross-app tracking. However, the AGCM's findings suggest the implementation created an uneven playing field.