France's Competition Authority Hits Apple with Heavy Fine

In a significant move, France's Competition Authority has imposed a hefty €150 million fine on Apple. The tech giant is accused of abusing its dominant position in the iOS and iPadOS app distribution sector from April 2021 to July 2023, specifically through its App Tracking Transparency (ATT) feature.

Questioning Apple's Privacy Measures

The authority criticized Apple's ATT implementation, stating it was neither necessary nor proportionate to the company's goal of protecting personal data. This policy mandates that iPhone and iPad users consent to third-party app data collection within Apple's ecosystem, ostensibly to enhance privacy.

Impact on Third-Party Developers

According to the regulator, Apple's approach unnecessarily complicated the user experience for third-party applications and skewed market neutrality, adversely affecting smaller publishers.