14 Sep 2022
Digital Markets Act adopted
The EU adopted the Digital Markets Act, which sets obligations for large online platforms designated as gatekeepers. It was published in the Official Journal on 12 October 2022.
Company
How the EU's Digital Markets Act fines unfolded
The Digital Markets Act entered into force in November 2022 and the Commission designated its first six gatekeepers in September 2023. After opening non-compliance cases in March 2024, it fined Apple 500 million euros and Meta 200 million euros in April 2025 and Google 890 million euros in July 2026. All three companies dispute the decisions.
14 September 2022 to today · 23 dated events · 20 sources
In 30 seconds: the turning points
Apple fineEUR 500mApril 2025, anti-steering
Meta fineEUR 200mApril 2025, pay or consent
Google finesEUR 890mJuly 2026, Search and Play
gatekeepers7per the Commission's DMA website
Timeline of events
Overview · 14 Sep 2022 to 8 Oct 2026 · click a dot to jump
2022
1 Nov 2022
Turning point
Digital Markets Act enters into force
The regulation entered into force. It allows fines of up to 10 percent of worldwide annual turnover, up to 20 percent for repeated breaches, and periodic penalties of up to 5 percent of average daily turnover.
2023
2 May 2023
The rules start to apply
The DMA began to apply. Companies meeting its thresholds had two months to notify the Commission, which then had 45 working days to decide on designation.
6 Sep 2023
Turning point
Commission designates six gatekeepers
The Commission designated Alphabet, Amazon, Apple, ByteDance, Meta and Microsoft as gatekeepers for 22 core platform services. Each had six months to comply. Samsung had notified the Commission but was not designated.
2024
25 Mar 2024
Turning point
Non-compliance investigations opened into Alphabet, Apple and Meta
The Commission opened proceedings into Google Play steering rules and self-preferencing in Google Search, Apple's App Store steering rules and user choice measures, and Meta's pay or consent model. It said it intended to conclude them within 12 months.
“We suspect that the suggested solutions put forward by the three companies do not fully comply with the DMA.”Margrethe Vestager, Commission Executive Vice-President, European Commission
29 Apr 2024
Apple's iPadOS designated
The Commission added Apple's iPadOS to the list of designated core platform services.
13 May 2024
Booking designated as seventh gatekeeper
The Commission designated Booking for its Booking.com online intermediation service.
24 Jun 2024
Preliminary findings against Apple on steering
The Commission told Apple it preliminarily found that its App Store rules breached the DMA because none of its business terms let developers freely steer customers to other offers. It also opened a third investigation into Apple's new developer terms, including a 0.50 euro Core Technology Fee per installed app.
“None of these business terms allow developers to freely steer their customers”European Commission, European Commission
1 Jul 2024
Preliminary findings against Meta on pay or consent
The Commission told Meta its preliminary view was that the pay or consent advertising model breached Article 5(2) because it offered no less personalised alternative and did not allow free consent.
“Our preliminary view is that Meta's advertising model fails to comply with the Digital Markets Act.”Margrethe Vestager, Commission Executive Vice-President, European Commission
Nov 2024
Meta introduces a new free ads option
Meta introduced a free option with personalised ads that it said used less personal data. The Commission said it was still assessing the change and excluded the period after November 2024 from its later decision.
2025
19 Mar 2025
Preliminary findings against Alphabet
The Commission sent Alphabet preliminary findings that Google Search favoured its own services such as shopping, hotel, transport, financial and sports results over rivals and that Google Play limited developers' ability to steer users to other channels. Alphabet could reply in writing.
19 Mar 2025
Specification decisions on Apple interoperability
The Commission adopted two legally binding decisions setting out how Apple must open nine iOS connectivity features to other device makers and make its interoperability request process more transparent. These decisions carried no fine.
23 Apr 2025
Turning point
Apple fined 500 million euros and Meta 200 million euros
The Commission fined Apple for breaching the anti-steering obligation and Meta for its consent or pay model between March and November 2024. Both were given 60 days to comply or risk periodic penalty payments.
“Today's decisions send a strong and clear message.”Teresa Ribera, Commission Executive Vice-President, European Commission
23 Apr 2025
Apple user choice case closed and Facebook Marketplace undesignated
The Commission closed its investigation into Apple's user choice obligations, saying Apple had engaged early on a compliance solution. Meta's Facebook Marketplace was removed from the list of designated services the same day.
23 Apr 2025
Apple and Meta criticise the decisions
Apple accused the Commission of unfairly targeting it and moving the goal posts, and Meta's chief global affairs officer said the decision amounted to a multi-billion-dollar tariff, the Associated Press reported. Both signalled appeals.
“Commission is attempting to handicap successful American businesses”Joel Kaplan, Meta, The Washington Times (Associated Press)
Jun 2025
Apple changes its EU App Store terms
Apple changed its EU terms to let developers promote outside purchases, with commission rates of up to 13 percent and new fees on sales advertised through apps, according to ITPro.
7 Jul 2025
Apple appeals its fine to the General Court
Apple said it had filed an appeal against the decision and that it had changed its terms to avoid daily fines, Engadget and ITPro reported. The appeal is pending.
“We implemented this to avoid punitive daily fines and will share the facts with the Court.”Apple, Engadget
Jul 2025
Meta appeals its fine
Meta's vice president Tim Lamb said in a blog post that the company was appealing the 200 million euro fine, arguing that a 2023 EU court ruling allowed paid subscription alternatives, AFP and Belga reported. The appeal is pending.
“This decision is both incorrect and unlawful, and we are appealing it.”Tim Lamb, Meta, Channels Television (AFP)
8 Dec 2025
Meta commits to a less personalised ads choice
The Commission said Meta had committed to give EU users of Facebook and Instagram a choice between fully personalised ads and an option that shares less personal data, to be presented in January 2026.
“Users in the EU must have full and effective choice, which is their right under the DMA.”European Commission, European Commission (DMA website)
2026
16 Jul 2026
Specification decisions on Google's Android and search data
The Commission adopted two binding specification decisions setting out how Google must give rival AI assistants access to Android features and share anonymised search data with rival search engines. The Commission said such decisions carry no fines.
23 Jul 2026
Turning point
Google fined 890 million euros
The Commission fined Google 460 million euros for self-preferencing in Search and 430 million euros for steering restrictions and fees on Google Play. It gave Google 60 days to comply or risk periodic penalty payments.
“Google has fallen short of effective compliance with the Digital Markets Act”Teresa Ribera, Commission Executive Vice-President, European Commission
23 Jul 2026
Google rejects the decisions
Alphabet's president of global affairs, Kent Walker, said the required changes would strip away real-time search features and dismantle safety protections on Google Play, Reuters reported.
“product degradation driven by a small group of self-serving complainants”Kent Walker, Alphabet, Aaj English TV (Reuters)
8 Oct 2026
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Sources
20 records, ranked by type- 1Official recordAbout the Digital Markets ActEuropean Commission (DMA website) · digital-markets-act.ec.europa.eu
- 2Official recordGatekeepersEuropean Commission (DMA website) · digital-markets-act.ec.europa.eu
- 3Official record6 Sep 2023Digital Markets Act: Commission designates six gatekeepers (IP/23/4328)European Commission · ec.europa.eu
- 4Official record25 Mar 2024Commission opens non-compliance investigations against Alphabet, Apple and Meta under the Digital Markets Act (IP/24/1689)European Commission · ec.europa.eu
- 5Official record24 Jun 2024Commission sends preliminary findings to Apple and opens additional non-compliance investigation (IP/24/3433)European Commission · ec.europa.eu
- 6Official record1 Jul 2024Commission sends preliminary findings to Meta over its pay or consent model (IP/24/3582)European Commission · ec.europa.eu
- 7Official record19 Mar 2025Commission sends preliminary findings to Alphabet under the Digital Markets Act (IP/25/811)European Commission · ec.europa.eu
- 8Official record19 Mar 2025Commission provides guidance under Digital Markets Act to facilitate development of innovative products on Apple's platforms (IP/25/816)European Commission · ec.europa.eu
- 9Official record23 Apr 2025Commission finds Apple and Meta in breach of the Digital Markets Act (IP/25/1085)European Commission · ec.europa.eu
- 10News report23 Apr 2025EU fines Apple 500 million euros, Meta 200 million in separate digital cases (AP)The Washington Times (Associated Press) · washingtontimes.com
- 11News report7 Jul 2025Apple appeals the EU's anti-steering fine
Engadget · engadget.com - 12News report8 Jul 2025Apple launches appeal over EU fineITPro · itpro.com
- 13News reportMeta appeals 200 million euro EU fine over data practicesBelga News Agency · belganewsagency.eu
- 14News report3 Jul 2025Meta to appeal EU fine (AFP)Channels Television (AFP) · channelstv.com
- 15Official record8 Dec 2025Meta commits to give EU users choice on personalised ads under Digital Markets ActEuropean Commission (DMA website) · digital-markets-act.ec.europa.eu
- 16Official record23 Jul 2026Commission fines Google 890 million euros for breaches of the Digital Markets Act (IP/26/1670)European Commission · ec.europa.eu
- 17Official record16 Jul 2026Commission provides guidance to Google for AI interoperability on Android and sharing of Google Search data under the Digital Markets Act (IP/26/1634)European Commission · ec.europa.eu
- 18News report23 Jul 2026Google hit with $1bn EU fine, in 'constructive' talks to avoid more penalties (Reuters)Aaj English TV (Reuters) · english.aaj.tv
- 19News report19 Oct 2026Google has filed two legal challenges against EUR 890mln in fines (citing Politico)Newsquawk · newsquawk.com
- 20Social media post8 Oct 2026Google appeals to EU court over 'gatekeeper' fines
MLex · mlex.com
Last updated 1 November 2026. Spotted an error? See corrections. Every event links to the record it comes from. Allegations are attributed to whoever made them.