Italy Fines Apple 170 Billion Won for "Abusing Dominant Position in App Market"

"App Tracking Transparency Feature, Unfair Competition"

The Italian competition authority (AGCM) has imposed a fine of 98 million euros (approximately 170 billion won) on Apple. The regulator determined that Apple had abused its dominant market position.

According to AFP and other foreign media on December 22 (local time), the Italian authority announced that "Apple violated personal data protection regulations related to third-party developers in the App Store market, where it holds a dominant position."

In April 2021, Apple introduced the 'App Tracking Transparency' feature, which requires apps to obtain prior consent when using users' personal information, such as website usage history.

The authority viewed this feature as undermining fair competition. It argued that Apple imposed complex consent procedures on third-party apps, while creating a more favorable advertising and search environment for its own apps.

Previously, in March, France also found that the App Tracking Transparency feature undermined fair competition and imposed a fine of 150 million euros (approximately 260 billion won) on Apple.

Other European competition authorities, including those in Romania and Poland, are also investigating Apple for similar allegations of abusing its dominant position in the app market.