Italy’s competition authority has fined Apple €98.6 million for abusing its dominant position in the iOS app market. The decision targets how Apple applies privacy and tracking rules inside the App Store, especially when those rules affect third-party developers.
The authority said Apple used its control of the App Store to impose tougher privacy and data-access conditions on outside developers than on its own apps. This imbalance reduced the quality of data available to rivals, which in turn hurt advertising revenue and user growth.
According to Reuters, the case centers on Apple’s privacy framework introduced after April 2021. That includes the App Tracking Transparency prompt, which asks users for consent before apps can track activity across other apps and websites.
Why regulators stepped in
Italy’s watchdog, the AGCM, said Apple forced third-party developers to follow stricter consent rules. Developers had to rely on Apple’s tracking prompt and then repeat similar consent requests inside their own apps. The authority said this duplication created friction for users and placed an extra burden on developers.
AGCM also said Apple imposed these rules unilaterally. In its view, the terms were “detrimental to the interests of Apple’s business partners” and not proportionate to the stated goal of protecting privacy. The authority added that the process did not comply with privacy regulations.
Apple did not immediately respond to a request for comment.
How the investigation unfolded
AGCM opened a formal probe in May 2023 against Apple, Apple Distribution International, and Apple Italia. As the case progressed, the authority coordinated with other European competition regulators. In October 2024, it extended the investigation into 2025 under EU competition law, signaling that the conduct raised wider concerns beyond Italy.
The authority said the investigation was complex and required cooperation with the European Commission and international antitrust bodies.
This fine fits into a longer history of clashes between Apple and Italian regulators. In 2021, AGCM fined Apple and Google €10 million each for aggressive data practices that did not clearly explain how personal data would be used for commercial purposes.
In another high-profile case, AGCM imposed a €173.3 million fine on Apple and Amazon over alleged limits on selling Apple products on Amazon’s Italian marketplace. Italian courts later annulled that penalty for procedural reasons, but the case still shaped how regulators view Apple’s market power.
The wider European picture
Across Europe, Apple’s App Store remains under sustained scrutiny. The European Commission has already pursued cases over App Store rules and mobile wallet access, leading to fines and changes in how Apple operates. Regulators now rely both on traditional antitrust law and the Digital Markets Act to curb how large platforms use control over apps, data, and defaults to favor their own services.
For developers, the Italian decision reinforces a clear message. Regulators want Apple’s privacy rules to protect users without distorting competition. This fine shows Europe is willing to act when it believes that balance is missing.
BS. If developers don’t want to do business with Apple then just stop. These IOS restrictions are good for the consumer and should be fully supported. This adds security to the system and for the user.