Italy Fines Apple $115 Million for App Tracking Policy Violations

Apple was penalised over 98 million euros ($114.8 million) by Italy's competition authorities for allegedly abusing its dominance in the digital economy through its app-tracking transparency policy.According to the nation's antitrust watchdog, Apple unfairly requires app developers to comply with privacy regulations. On 22 December, the Autorità Garante della Concorrenza e del Mercato (AGCM) or Italian Competition Authority stated that Apple unfairly requires app developers to obtain users' approval before collecting and using their data for advertising through a unique prompt.

According to the regulator, the prompt basically compels app developers to request permission twice for the same reason. It claimed that Apple's requirements regarding app monitoring transparency are detrimental to Apple's business partners.

Apple’s Response

Users can simply choose whether applications can follow their online activities according to Apple's app-tracking transparency policy, which has been endorsed by privacy organisations. The company says it will keep defending the system. Apple will continue to defend robust privacy protections for our consumers while we appeal, according to a company representative.

According to the AGCM, Apple's App Store gives it a "super-dominant" position in the market. According to the FCC, the duplicate consent request that necessarily results from the ATT policy as implemented limits the collection, linking, and use of user data, which is a crucial input for targeted online advertising.

Apple’s Trouble Continues in the European Market

Apple's terms and conditions for developers that use its iPhone and iPad App Stores to reach consumers have drawn criticism in Europe. Apple offered to amend its app-tracking transparency policy, but Germany's competition commission is presently examining the adjustments because it claims they could unfairly favour the tech company's own software over rival apps.

Separately, Apple was fined 500 million euros earlier this year by the European Commission, the EU's executive branch responsible for enforcing antitrust laws, for allegedly violating the Digital Markets Act, the EU's new set of regulations intended to limit the market dominance of the biggest tech companies in the world.