The European Union is gearing up to charge Apple for allegedly breaching the Digital Markets Act (DMA), as reported by the Financial Times. Sources familiar with the situation revealed that the European Commission believes Apple has not adhered to the DMA’s guidelines, which require allowing app developers to guide users towards offers and payment options outside the App Store without imposing fees.

This development comes shortly after the European Commission initiated non-compliance investigations into Apple, Google, and Meta. The EU is expected to officially announce charges against Apple in the upcoming weeks, marking Apple as the first tech giant to face allegations under the DMA’s new regulations.

Apple has refrained from commenting on the issue directly but emphasized a previous statement asserting compliance with the DMA. The company expressed willingness to cooperate with the European Commission throughout their investigations.

If found guilty of violating the DMA, Apple could face daily penalties amounting to 5% of its average worldwide turnover, currently exceeding $1 billion USD. However, preliminary findings suggest that Apple may still have an opportunity to address concerns and potentially avoid charges altogether.

The threat of additional antitrust scrutiny looms over tech companies globally as regulators aim to combat monopolies and foster competition. In a similar vein, Apple faced a significant lawsuit in March regarding its iCloud dominance in the United States.

The EU’s Digital Markets Act serves as pivotal legislation compelling designated “online gatekeepers” such as Apple to enhance competition by opening up their platforms. In response, Apple announced intentions to enable sideloading and third-party app markets on its platforms earlier this year in alignment with the DMA’s requirements.