The European Union has defied warnings from US President Donald Trump by pressing ahead with major actions against tech giants Google and Apple, accusing them of violating the bloc’s strict new digital regulations.
Brussels charged Google with breaching the Digital Markets Act (DMA), a law designed to curb the dominance of Big Tech and boost competition in the EU’s 27 member states. Apple was separately ordered to improve the compatibility of its iPhone with rival devices, a move the company fiercely opposed.
The EU’s crackdown could result in massive fines for the firms and may escalate tensions with Trump, who has threatened retaliation if American companies are penalised under the bloc’s tech laws.
The European Commission delivered a “preliminary view” accusing Google of favouring its own services in search results and blocking developers from offering cheaper deals outside its Play Store.
Under the DMA, Google could face fines of up to 10% of its global revenue—potentially billions of dollars—if found guilty. Repeat offences could push fines to 20%.
Google swiftly pushed back, arguing the EU’s actions would “hurt European businesses and consumers, hinder innovation, weaken security, and degrade product quality.”
The commission also targeted Apple, ordering the company to make its iPhone more compatible with rival smartwatches, headphones, and other devices. Apple condemned the decision, accusing the EU of tying it up in “red tape” and forcing it to “give away new features for free to companies who don’t have to play by the same rules.”
Apple has long argued that the EU’s digital laws compromise user security, but Brussels has rejected those claims.
The company is already under scrutiny in the US, where it faces an antitrust lawsuit alleging that it deliberately makes it difficult for iPhone users to interact with Android devices and rival smartwatches.
The EU’s actions could provoke a sharp response from Trump, who has repeatedly criticised the bloc’s approach to American tech companies.
Last year, Apple and Meta faced similar EU accusations, and many expect hefty fines to follow. Trump has warned that he views such penalties as a form of taxation and has floated the idea of retaliatory tariffs on the EU.
In a speech last month, Trump pledged to take action against European digital taxes and policies targeting US firms.
Big Tech has increasingly aligned itself with Trump since his re-election. Billionaire Elon Musk, owner of X (formerly Twitter), has emerged as a close ally, while Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg has called on Trump to push back against EU regulations.
The EU introduced the DMA after years of lengthy legal battles and fines against Big Tech. The law aims to set clear rules that prevent monopolistic practices without relying on protracted competition investigations.
