Why the DMA fines for Apple, Meta and Google signal a turning point and how Unyted leads the way for secure, user-centric collaboration

In a major move toward protecting digital autonomy in Europe, the European Commission recently fined Apple and Meta a combined €700 million for breaching the Digital Markets Act (DMA). This follows an earlier €2.95 billion antitrust fine against Alphabet, the parent company of Google. These decisions are more than legal milestones. They are a signal that the status quo in platform power is being challenged and that users deserve more control, more transparency, and more secure alternatives.

What is the DMA and why now?

The Digital Markets Act was designed to address the growing imbalance between dominant digital platforms and the users and businesses that rely on them. At the heart of the DMA lies the concept of gatekeepers – companies that control access to key digital ecosystems, such as app stores, ad networks, and search. The rules aim to curb abusive behaviour by these gatekeepers, requiring them to offer fairer, more open terms of service and data usage.

According to the official press release from the European Commission, Apple breached its “anti-steering obligation” by restricting how app developers can inform users about cheaper offers outside the App Store. Meanwhile, Meta violated the requirement to offer a real alternative to data tracking. Its “Consent or Pay” model forced users to either accept extensive data collection or pay for ad-free access to Facebook and Instagram.

These findings are the result of extensive investigations and are among the first formal non-compliance decisions made under the DMA. For Alphabet, the penalty stems from years of prioritising its own advertising platforms in the adtech supply chain, as detailed in this report by Silicon Republic.

What’s at stake for users and businesses?

While these violations may seem technical, their real-world implications are far-reaching. When Apple limits visibility into third-party offers, users end up paying more and businesses lose the opportunity to build direct relationships with their customers. When Meta fails to provide meaningful alternatives to data tracking, the right to privacy becomes conditional – no longer a given, but a paid feature.

Alphabet’s advertising practices are a reminder that many platform models are still built on the monetisation of user data and self-preferencing. The result is a system where users have little choice, and businesses operate in an ecosystem that is skewed against them.

These examples highlight a deeper issue: platform power has long prioritised corporate profit over user empowerment. The DMA challenges that logic and opens the door for new models – ones that treat user privacy and open access not as obstacles, but as foundational principles.

The myth of consent: Why “Consent or Pay” is not enough

Meta’s response to the DMA – offering users a binary choice between data consent or subscription – may seem like a solution on paper. But in practice, it fails to uphold the principle of free and informed consent. Most users are unlikely to pay for access to social media platforms, effectively pushing them toward a default of tracking and profiling. This model disproportionately affects lower-income users and undermines the spirit of the regulation.

True choice means offering alternatives that do not penalise users for prioritising privacy. It means designing systems where consent is not coerced or hidden behind complex menus, but embedded in the experience itself.

Why the future of digital platforms must be different

The failures of Apple, Meta, and Alphabet point to a broader challenge: rebuilding digital infrastructure around values of trust, privacy, and interoperability. For too long, businesses and individuals have had to compromise between usability and ethics, between scale and security. But this trade-off is no longer acceptable.

In an increasingly decentralised and hybrid world, organisations need environments where users can collaborate, learn, and grow – without being subject to opaque data collection or algorithmic manipulation.

A new generation of platforms

Unyted was born out of the mission to build something fundamentally different. As a European technology company, we believe that privacy is not a feature, but a default. That secure collaboration should not be an enterprise luxury, but a basic right.

Our virtual environments are built with “privacy by design” principles and fully comply with the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR). Every space is designed for secure access, encrypted communication, and granular control over who sees what – whether it’s a learning hub, an event space, or a digital twin of your organisation.

But beyond compliance, we champion a user-first ideology. Our platform gives organisations the freedom to create, connect, and grow without handing over their data or compromising their values.

Where regulation meets innovation

The fines imposed by the European Commission are not just punitive measures. They are a turning point. They show that platform accountability is not optional and that alternative models are not only possible but necessary.

Unyted stands at the forefront of this transformation. We are proud to offer a platform that respects its users, empowers organisations, and aligns with the future of responsible technology.

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