Italy's antitrust and competition authority AGCM has fined Google and Apple EUR 10 million each for breaching the country’s Consumer Code with “aggressive practices” related to acquisition and use of customer data for commercial purposes. AGCM said the fine is the maximum it can apply under current legislation, adding that “neither Apple nor Google provided clear and immediate information on the acquisition and use of user data for commercial ends”.
In a statement announcing the fines, the authority added that Google’s terms and conditions on data usage are set up to be accepted while users of Apple products and services are not given an “immediate and explicit” choice on the matter. Both Google and Apple said they disagree with AGCM’s decision and intend to appeal.
The decision comes a few days after the watchdog imposed a EUR 200 million fine on Apple and Amazon for restricting access for certain sellers of Apple products on the Amazon.it platform. It also comes just a day after EU member states reached an agreement to regulate the tech sector and online services via the proposed Digital Markets Act and Digital Services Act.
