Spotify, one of the leading campaigners against the Apple rules under investigation, also met with DG TRADE officials earlier this month to discuss the digital law.
However, while the threats from Washington are a factor, they are not the most important consideration when setting fines, according to a person familiar with the Commission’s thinking. Other factors, particularly the novelty of the regulation, are more important, they said.
The EU executive is expected to dole out a fine to Apple for its rules on developers that prevent them from communicating offers to iPhone users, according to people briefed on the matter. In parallel, a separate investigation into Apple’s browser default settings is expected to be wound down, as changes made by the iPhone maker last year have earned a positive nod from competing browser developers.
Meta will face a fine for imposing terms and conditions on users for the use of their personal data that are in breach of the DMA.
Commissioner Teresa Ribera, who is in charge of the Commission’s competition department, will travel to Washington this week to attend an annual global gathering of antitrust lawyers. Ribera will meet her counterparts at the U.S. Department of Justice and the Federal Trade Commission on Wednesday.
Despite the trade tensions, EU officials have emphasized that there continues to be a broad alignment between the U.S. government and the EU on the need to carry on with enforcement against Big Tech.
The U.S. Federal Trade Commission will go to trial next month in a case against Meta while the government’s monopolization lawsuit against Apple has continued under Trump.
