France: Competition Authority fined Apple EUR 150 million for abuse of dominant position in sector for distribution of mobile applications on iOS and iPadOS devices

On 31 March 2025, the Competition Authority fined Apple EUR 150 million for abusing its dominance in mobile app distribution on iOS and iPadOS between April 2021 and July 2023. The Competition Authority found that Apple’s App Tracking Transparency (ATT) framework imposed stricter consent requirements on third-party apps than on its own services, distorting competition in digital advertising. The investigation followed a complaint from industry associations in October 2020, which claimed that ATT obstructed targeted advertising. Although interim measures were not imposed in 2021, the inquiry continued. Introduced with iOS 14.5, ATT required third-party apps to obtain user consent for tracking, while Apple’s own services were initially exempt. Users declining tracking had to opt out only once, whereas those consenting needed to confirm their choice twice. This imbalance discouraged tracking consent and disproportionately affected third-party advertisers. The Competition Authority also found that ATT’s consent mechanism did not comply with French data protection law, requiring publishers to implement additional consent management platforms, further complicating user experience. In addition to the fine, Apple must publish a summary of the decision on its website for seven days.