Italy fines Apple $116 million for App Store tracking privacy policy
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Italy's competition authority (AGCM) has fined Apple €98.6 million ($116 million) for allegedly abusing its dominant market position in mobile app advertising through the App Tracking Transparency (ATT) privacy framework. The AGCM claims Apple's ATT policy forces third-party developers to request user consent twice for tracking, while exempting its own apps and services from this requirement. This double-consent process is deemed excessively burdensome and restrictive of competition. Apple plans to appeal the decision, maintaining that ATT provides essential privacy protections for users. The AGCM investigation was launched in May 2023, and Apple has faced similar fines and probes in France, Poland, and Romania. Germany's antitrust authority is currently testing Apple's proposed changes to ATT.
Timeline
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24.12.2025 08:15 1 articles · 23h ago
Apple faces additional scrutiny and fines over ATT
Apple has faced similar fines and probes in other European countries, including a €150 million ($162 million) fine by France's competition watchdog in March 2025. Apple is also facing similar probes in Poland and Romania. Germany's antitrust authority is testing Apple's proposed changes to ATT, which include neutral consent prompts and a simplified consent process.
Show sources
- Italy Fines Apple €98.6 Million Over ATT Rules Limiting App Store Competition — thehackernews.com — 24.12.2025 08:15
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23.12.2025 13:06 2 articles · 1d ago
Italy fines Apple $116 million for App Store tracking privacy policy
Italy's competition authority (AGCM) has fined Apple €98.6 million ($116 million) for allegedly abusing its dominant market position in mobile app advertising through the App Tracking Transparency (ATT) privacy framework. The AGCM claims Apple's ATT policy forces third-party developers to request user consent twice for tracking, while exempting its own apps and services from this requirement. This double-consent process is deemed excessively burdensome and restrictive of competition. Apple plans to appeal the decision, maintaining that ATT provides essential privacy protections for users. The AGCM investigation was launched in May 2023, and Apple has faced similar fines and probes in other European countries.
Show sources
- Italy fines Apple $116 million over App Store privacy policy issues — www.bleepingcomputer.com — 23.12.2025 13:06
- Italy Fines Apple €98.6 Million Over ATT Rules Limiting App Store Competition — thehackernews.com — 24.12.2025 08:15
Information Snippets
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ATT requires developers to request user consent for tracking across apps and websites owned by other companies.
First reported: 23.12.2025 13:062 sources, 2 articlesShow sources
- Italy fines Apple $116 million over App Store privacy policy issues — www.bleepingcomputer.com — 23.12.2025 13:06
- Italy Fines Apple €98.6 Million Over ATT Rules Limiting App Store Competition — thehackernews.com — 24.12.2025 08:15
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Apple's own apps and services are exempt from showing the ATT consent prompt.
First reported: 23.12.2025 13:062 sources, 2 articlesShow sources
- Italy fines Apple $116 million over App Store privacy policy issues — www.bleepingcomputer.com — 23.12.2025 13:06
- Italy Fines Apple €98.6 Million Over ATT Rules Limiting App Store Competition — thehackernews.com — 24.12.2025 08:15
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The AGCM found that ATT's implementation creates a double-consent process for developers, which is deemed excessively burdensome.
First reported: 23.12.2025 13:062 sources, 2 articlesShow sources
- Italy fines Apple $116 million over App Store privacy policy issues — www.bleepingcomputer.com — 23.12.2025 13:06
- Italy Fines Apple €98.6 Million Over ATT Rules Limiting App Store Competition — thehackernews.com — 24.12.2025 08:15
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Apple plans to appeal the €98.6 million fine, arguing that ATT provides essential privacy protections.
First reported: 23.12.2025 13:062 sources, 2 articlesShow sources
- Italy fines Apple $116 million over App Store privacy policy issues — www.bleepingcomputer.com — 23.12.2025 13:06
- Italy Fines Apple €98.6 Million Over ATT Rules Limiting App Store Competition — thehackernews.com — 24.12.2025 08:15
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The AGCM investigation into Apple's ATT rules was launched in May 2023.
First reported: 24.12.2025 08:151 source, 1 articleShow sources
- Italy Fines Apple €98.6 Million Over ATT Rules Limiting App Store Competition — thehackernews.com — 24.12.2025 08:15
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The AGCM stated that Apple's absolute dominant position in app distribution allowed it to unilaterally impose ATT rules on third-party developers.
First reported: 24.12.2025 08:151 source, 1 articleShow sources
- Italy Fines Apple €98.6 Million Over ATT Rules Limiting App Store Competition — thehackernews.com — 24.12.2025 08:15
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Apple was fined €150 million ($162 million) by France's competition watchdog in March 2025 for similar reasons.
First reported: 24.12.2025 08:151 source, 1 articleShow sources
- Italy Fines Apple €98.6 Million Over ATT Rules Limiting App Store Competition — thehackernews.com — 24.12.2025 08:15
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Apple is facing similar probes in Poland and Romania.
First reported: 24.12.2025 08:151 source, 1 articleShow sources
- Italy Fines Apple €98.6 Million Over ATT Rules Limiting App Store Competition — thehackernews.com — 24.12.2025 08:15
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Germany's antitrust authority is testing Apple's proposed changes to ATT, including neutral consent prompts and a simplified consent process.
First reported: 24.12.2025 08:151 source, 1 articleShow sources
- Italy Fines Apple €98.6 Million Over ATT Rules Limiting App Store Competition — thehackernews.com — 24.12.2025 08:15
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