The French Competition Authority has fined Apple 150 million euros (approximately $162.4 million) for its App Tracking Transparency (ATT) system, which it launched in 2021. The authority found that Apple abused its dominance in the mobile app market through this system and made it difficult for small publishers to earn revenue.
France fines Apple $162 million
ATT requires iOS developers to display two separate consent windows to track users, while Apple allows a similar permission for its own apps to be approved with just a single tap. This makes it more complicated to obtain user consent for third-party apps, while allowing Apple to offer a simpler process for its own services.
App developers and companies that rely on advertising revenue have suffered great losses following the implementation of ATT. According to a report by the Financial Times, platforms such as Snapchat, Facebook and X have lost approximately $10 billion in revenue due to this change. Instead of questioning ATT’s potential contribution to user privacy, the French Competition Authority found that the system was disproportionately harmful to small publishers.
Apple argues that ATT provides a consistent system for all developers and is intended to protect user privacy. The company’s spokesperson Shane Bauer says the system provides clear and understandable information to users and has received support from consumers, privacy advocates and data protection authorities around the world.
The French Competition Authority only imposed a fine on Apple for the past period. The company was not required to change or remove the ATT system. However, Apple will have to publish a summary of the agency’s decision on its official website for seven days.
