France Fines Apple $162M Over Controversial Privacy Tool Practices
France has fined Apple €150 million ($162 million) over its App Tracking Transparency (ATT) privacy tool, marking the first global antitrust penalty specifically targeting this feature.
The French Competition Authority ruled on March 31, 2025, that Apple abused its market power through ATT implementation. While Apple presents the tool as a privacy protection measure, regulators found it creates unfair competition in the mobile advertising market.
Key findings from the ruling:
- ATT disproportionately impacts smaller advertisers and app developers
- The privacy features were deemed "neither necessary nor proportionate"
- The policy creates an uneven playing field in mobile advertising
- Apple maintains preferential access to user data while restricting others
Despite the fine, regulators aren't requiring immediate changes to ATT. Apple defended the tool as a user privacy measure, but critics argue it's designed to eliminate advertising competition while maintaining Apple's data advantages.
This penalty follows last year's €1.8 billion EU fine over App Store music streaming practices. Similar investigations are now underway in Germany, Italy, Poland, and Romania, suggesting broader regulatory challenges ahead for Apple's privacy policies.
The ruling represents a significant challenge to Apple's privacy-focused marketing strategy, with regulators clearly stating that user protection cannot be used as cover for anti-competitive practices. With billions in advertising revenue at stake, this decision could have far-reaching implications for mobile advertising and data privacy practices.