Apple(US:AAPL) Xin Hua Cai Jing·2025-03-31 16:54Core Viewpoint - The French Competition Authority has imposed a fine of €150 million on Apple for abusing its dominant position in device-targeted advertising [2][3] Group 1: Regulatory Actions - The fine is a result of Apple's App Tracking Transparency (ATT) mechanism, which was launched in April 2021, and is seen as unnecessary and inappropriate despite Apple's claims of protecting personal data [2] - The ATT mechanism has been criticized for favoring Apple's own services while harming third-party applications [2][3] Group 2: Mechanism Details - The ATT mechanism requires users to consent to data collection from third-party applications each time they download a new app, complicating the user experience on iPhone and iPad [3] - Users must provide double confirmation to allow ad tracking by third-party apps, while rejecting it only requires a single click, indicating an asymmetric treatment between Apple's and third-party applications [3] Group 3: Impact and Compliance - The French Competition Authority stated that the violations occurred between April 26, 2021, and July 25, 2023, and has mandated Apple to publish a summary of the penalty on its website for seven consecutive days [3]