German Antitrust Authority Accuses Apple of Abusing Market Power
Germany's Federal Cartel Office has accused Apple of abusing its market dominance through its App Tracking Transparency (ATT) feature, alleging it gives Apple preferential treatment and harms competitors. This follows a three-year investigation into Apple's ATT, which allows users to block cross-app tracking by advertisers. Apple argues ATT protects user privacy, but this has drawn criticism from Meta, app developers, and startups whose business models rely on ad tracking. German authorities say Apple's actions make it harder for competitors to access user data relevant for advertising. Apple could face daily fines if it fails to address concerns before a final ruling (potentially this year, more likely next). The case was triggered by complaints from associations representing publishers, broadcasters, advertisers, and ad tech firms. Lawyers involved say this is a landmark case, arguing Apple misused privacy concerns to restrict competition in its favor.
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