EU Big Tech crackdown: Commission calls out Google and Apple for antitrust violations

Following continuous trade tensions between the European Union and the United States, the European Commission moved forward with the enforcement of its digital antitrust rules on Alphabet’s Google and Apple. On Wednesday, the commission said in a press release that Alphabet treats its own services, such as shopping, hotel booking, transport, or financial or sports results, more favorably than other results offered by third parties, and that Alphabet displays its own services at the top of Google Search results with enhanced “visual formats and filtering mechanisms.” The commission noted that it informed Alphabet that its app marketplace, Google Play, does not comply with the Digital Markets Act (DMA), as app developers are prevented from steering consumers to other channels that may have better offers. Alphabet now has the opportunity to review the documents in the commission investigation file and respond. If the commission upholds its preliminary assessment, it would then issue a noncompliance decision. “We will keep engaging with the Commission and comply with its rules,” Google said in a blog post. “But today’s findings now increase the risk of an even worse experience for Europeans. The DMA is designed to regulate large platforms like Google, Apple, and Meta, and boost competition, but in reality, it is having the opposite effect by hurting European businesses and consumers.” In another press release, the commission specified the measures that Apple has to take to comply with certain aspects of its interoperability obligation. According to the commission, “interoperability enables a deeper and more seamless integration of third-party products with Apple’s ecosystem” and is the key to “opening up new possibilities for third parties to develop innovative products and services on Apple’s gatekeeper platforms.” The commission then outlined its recommendations for Apple to enhance the interoperability of its iOS devices with competitors’ products, such as headphones, smartwatches, and virtual reality headsets, in order to comply with the DMA. These included requiring Apple to improve the compatibility of third-party smartwatches and headphones with iPhone and iPad operating systems and simplifying the pairing process for users. “Today’s decisions wrap us in red tape, slowing down Apple’s ability to innovate for users in Europe and forcing us to give away our new features for free to companies who don’t have to play by the same rules,” the company said in a statement to the Wall Street Journal. The decisions on Apple and Google are just the latest of an escalating trade war between the U.S. and EU. On March 13, President Trump threatened to impose a 200% tariff on European alcoholic beverages in response to the EU’s 50% tariff it imposed on American-made spirits. The EU’s move came in retaliation to Trump’s 25% tariffs on aluminum and steel, which took effect on March 12.

Mar 19, 2025 - 21:45

EU Big Tech crackdown: Commission calls out Google and Apple for antitrust violations

Following continuous trade tensions between the European Union and the United States, the European Commission moved forward with the enforcement of its digital antitrust rules on Alphabet’s Google and Apple.

On Wednesday, the commission said in a press release that Alphabet treats its own services, such as shopping, hotel booking, transport, or financial or sports results, more favorably than other results offered by third parties, and that Alphabet displays its own services at the top of Google Search results with enhanced “visual formats and filtering mechanisms.”

The commission noted that it informed Alphabet that its app marketplace, Google Play, does not comply with the Digital Markets Act (DMA), as app developers are prevented from steering consumers to other channels that may have better offers.

Alphabet now has the opportunity to review the documents in the commission investigation file and respond. If the commission upholds its preliminary assessment, it would then issue a noncompliance decision.

“We will keep engaging with the Commission and comply with its rules,” Google said in a blog post. “But today’s findings now increase the risk of an even worse experience for Europeans. The DMA is designed to regulate large platforms like Google, Apple, and Meta, and boost competition, but in reality, it is having the opposite effect by hurting European businesses and consumers.”

In another press release, the commission specified the measures that Apple has to take to comply with certain aspects of its interoperability obligation.

According to the commission, “interoperability enables a deeper and more seamless integration of third-party products with Apple’s ecosystem” and is the key to “opening up new possibilities for third parties to develop innovative products and services on Apple’s gatekeeper platforms.”

The commission then outlined its recommendations for Apple to enhance the interoperability of its iOS devices with competitors’ products, such as headphones, smartwatches, and virtual reality headsets, in order to comply with the DMA. These included requiring Apple to improve the compatibility of third-party smartwatches and headphones with iPhone and iPad operating systems and simplifying the pairing process for users.

“Today’s decisions wrap us in red tape, slowing down Apple’s ability to innovate for users in Europe and forcing us to give away our new features for free to companies who don’t have to play by the same rules,” the company said in a statement to the Wall Street Journal.

The decisions on Apple and Google are just the latest of an escalating trade war between the U.S. and EU. On March 13, President Trump threatened to impose a 200% tariff on European alcoholic beverages in response to the EU’s 50% tariff it imposed on American-made spirits. The EU’s move came in retaliation to Trump’s 25% tariffs on aluminum and steel, which took effect on March 12.