Apple Fined $2 Billion as Europe Sides With Spotify

Apple has been hit with a $2 billion fine by the European Union after the bloc sided with music streaming service Spotify in an antitrust case. The fine comes after Spotify accused Apple of abusing its dominant position in the market by charging excessive fees and imposing restrictive rules on its App Store.

The European Commission found that Apple’s practices were anti-competitive and violated EU competition rules. Margrethe Vestager, the EU’s competition chief, stated that “Apple’s conduct has harmed competition in the music streaming market and deprived consumers of choice and innovation.”

Apple has denied any wrongdoing and has announced plans to appeal the decision. The tech giant has stated that it has always followed the law and that it believes in fair competition.

This is not the first time Apple has been embroiled in antitrust allegations. The company has faced scrutiny in both Europe and the United States over its App Store practices, with critics arguing that it exerts too much control over the apps that are available on its platform.

It remains to be seen how this latest ruling will impact Apple’s business in Europe and beyond. The fine is one of the largest ever imposed by the EU and serves as a warning to other tech companies that the bloc will not tolerate anti-competitive behavior.