French antitrust regulator fines Apple $217 million over privacy tool
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The fine is the first by any antitrust regulator against Apple over its App Tracking Transparency.
PHOTO: REUTERS
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PARIS – Apple was hit with a €150 million (S$217 million) fine by French antitrust regulators on March 31 for abusing its dominant position in mobile app advertising on its devices between 2021 and 2023 thanks to a privacy control tool.
The French competition watchdog, however, did not order Apple to change the tool.
The fine is the first by any antitrust regulator against Apple over its App Tracking Transparency (ATT).
ATT allows iPhone and iPad users to decide which apps can track user activity but it has been criticised by advertisers and rivals dependent on online advertising.
The French case was triggered by complaints from several associations for online advertisers, publishers and internet networks accusing Apple of allegedly abusing its market power.
“While the objective pursued by the ATT is not in itself open to criticism, the way it is implemented is neither necessary nor proportionate to Apple’s stated objective of protecting personal data,” the regulator said in a statement.
It added that the privacy tool “particularly penalised smaller publishers” as they depend to a large extent on the collection of third-party data to fund their business.
The French watchdog also ordered Apple to publish the decision on its website for seven days.
The fine is much smaller than the €1.8 billion penalty
Apple said it was disappointed with the French fine but that the regulator had not required any specific changes to its privacy control tool.
Apple’s ATT is also in the crosshairs of the German antitrust agency, which in February charged the company with giving itself preferential treatment.
March 31’s decision confirmed a Reuters story from February. REUTERS
