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Apple Appeals €500 Million EU Fine Over App Store Restrictions

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Apple has officially filed a lawsuit challenging a €500 million ($587 million) antitrust fine imposed by the European Commission, contesting claims it violated the Digital Markets Act (DMA). The tech giant submitted the appeal on Monday, the final day to do so, at the EU’s General Court, the bloc’s second-highest legal authority.

The Commission ruled in April 2025 that Apple had unlawfully restricted app developers from directing users to cheaper payment options outside the App Store, a practice viewed as anti-competitive under the DMA.

In a public statement, Apple argued that the decision “goes far beyond what the law requires,” adding that the imposed fine was “unprecedented” and that the Commission is now effectively mandating how we run our store. Apple said it changed its policies to avoid daily fines of up to €50 million, or 5% of its average global daily revenue.

Despite modifying its App Store rules last month to comply with EU regulations, Apple insists the changes were made under protest, calling the Commission’s stance “confusing for developers and bad for users.” The company maintains that its original policies were fair and necessary for maintaining quality and user safety within the App Store ecosystem.

The European Commission has begun gathering feedback from developers to assess whether Apple’s revised App Store practices meet the obligations of the DMA. A decision on whether further changes will be required is still pending.

The case represents a significant moment in the EU’s broader campaign to rein in the influence of Big Tech, using the DMA to challenge gatekeeper platforms like Apple, Meta, Google, and Amazon. It also marks one of the first major legal battles under the DMA framework, setting a precedent for how tech firms may operate across the EU going forward.

France Fines Shein €40 Million for Misleading Discounts on Fast Fashion Platform

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France’s antitrust regulator has fined fast-fashion giant Shein €40 million ($47.17 million) for deceptive commercial practices related to misleading discounts offered on its platform. The penalty follows a nearly year-long investigation into how Shein presented pricing on its French website.

According to the Directorate General for Competition, Consumer Affairs and Fraud Control (DGCCRF), Shein’s European sales handler, Infinite Style E-Commerce Co Ltd (ISEL), failed to comply with French pricing laws that require any advertised discount to reflect the lowest price offered over the prior 30 days. Instead, Shein often disregarded prior discounts and, in some cases, even increased prices before applying supposed markdowns.

The investigation, which analyzed thousands of products listed between October 1, 2022, and August 31, 2023, found that:

  • 57% of the “discounts” did not actually reduce the price,

  • 19% offered smaller savings than advertised,

  • 11% were actually price increases disguised as deals.

The regulator concluded that Shein had misled consumers about the authenticity of its promotional offers, violating both consumer trust and legal standards.

In response, Shein stated that it was notified of the violations in March 2023 and took corrective action within two months. The company emphasized that “all identified issues were addressed more than a year ago” and reaffirmed its commitment to full compliance with French regulations.

This fine adds to growing scrutiny of Shein across Europe and other markets, where regulators are focusing not just on pricing practices but also on environmental impact and labor transparency.