Apple and Meta are reportedly nearing final deals with European Union regulators to comply with the bloc’s Digital Markets Act, paving the way for continued operation of their App Store and advertising businesses under stricter oversight.
Meta and Apple are reportedly close to finalising new agreements with European Union regulators.
According to a report from the Financial Times, both companies are in the final stages of negotiating frameworks that will allow them to continue operating key services, such as Meta’s ad business and Apple’s App Store, under the new regulations in the bloc’s Digital Marketing Act (DMA).
The discussions come after months of scrutiny from the European Commission, which has accused the firms of failing to give consumers and developers fair access to competing products and payment systems.
Sources familiar with the talks told the FT that Apple’s deal will likely revolve around changes to its App Store terms, ensuring that developers can more easily offer apps and subscriptions outside Apple’s ecosystem.
The company is also expected to make further adjustments to its core technology fees – a controversial element of its compliance plan that critics say still gives it too much control over third-party app distribution.
Meta, meanwhile, is believed to be negotiating terms around its “ad-free subscription” model introduced in 2023.
Regulators have argued the system – which forces users to either pay for privacy or accept tracking – violates the spirit of the DMA.
The upcoming deal could involve new consent mechanisms and greater transparency for how Meta uses personal data in advertising.
If both companies secure approval, it would represent a major breakthrough in the EU’s efforts to bring the tech giants into full compliance with digital market rules.
However, watchdogs in Brussels have reportedly warned that enforcement will remain strict, with regular audits to ensure neither company backtracks on its commitments.
Meta and Apple ‘in final stages of agreeing EU deals’
