Apple fined €1.8bn for breaking streaming rules

Apple has been fined €1.8 billion by the European Union for breaking competition rules in the streaming market. The tech giant was found to have abused its dominant position in the market by unfairly favoring its own streaming service, Apple Music, over competitors.

The European Commission found that Apple had engaged in anti-competitive practices by imposing unfair restrictions on competing music streaming services, such as Spotify, in order to boost its own market share. This is a violation of EU competition law, which aims to promote fair competition and protect consumers.

Apple has denied any wrongdoing and plans to appeal the decision. The company has argued that its actions were necessary to protect the security and integrity of its platform, but the European Commission has rejected these arguments.

This is not the first time that Apple has been accused of anti-competitive behavior. In 2016, the company was ordered to pay €13 billion in back taxes to Ireland after it was found to have received illegal state aid. The tech giant has also faced scrutiny in the US for its App Store practices, with regulators investigating whether it has abused its dominant position in the market.

It remains to be seen how Apple will respond to the latest fine from the EU, but the company is likely to face strong opposition from competitors and consumers alike. The case highlights the challenges that tech giants face in balancing their own interests with those of consumers and competitors in an increasingly digital world.