Italy’s antitrust authority (AGCM) has imposed a €98.6 million fine on Apple for abusing its dominant position in the distribution of applications on iOS devices. According to the regulator, the company violated Article 102 of the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union (TFEU), which prohibits practices that distort competition within the EU single market.
The penalty focuses on Apple’s App Tracking Transparency (ATT) policy, which requires third-party app developers to obtain explicit user consent before tracking activity outside their applications. While the measure was presented as a step forward in data protection, the Italian authority concluded that its implementation created unequal competitive conditions in the market.
According to the AGCM, Apple imposed stricter privacy requirements on third-party developers, while its own apps and services benefited from a more favorable position within the iOS ecosystem. This imbalance limited the ability of other developers to compete fairly, particularly in the digital advertising and app monetization markets. The decision highlights growing concerns among European regulators that major technology platforms may use privacy rules and operating system control not only to protect users, but also to strengthen their market dominance.
In this case, the authority found that the ATT policy produced restrictive effects on competition that went beyond its stated objectives. The ruling could have broader implications for future regulation of large technology companies in Europe, especially regarding the balance between data protection and fair competition. It remains to be seen whether Apple will appeal the decision or whether similar actions will follow in other countries or markets.
