Apple Faces Tighter Oversight After German Court Ruling

Apple's bid to dodge stricter oversight in Germany hit a wall this week. On Tuesday, the country's Federal Court of Justice upheld a 2023 antitrust ruling against the iPhone maker, cementing its status as a major player facing tighter regulatory reins. The decision, years in the making, zeroes in on Apple's market influence and could reshape how the company operates in one of Europe's biggest economies.

The court affirmed the German cartel office's classification of Apple as a "company of paramount cross-market significance for competition." That label, handed down in 2023, puts Apple in the same boat as Alphabet (Google's parent) and Meta (Facebook's owner), both already under Germany's watchful eye for potential dominance abuses.

Apple didn't take the ruling quietly. "It neglects the value of a business model that places the privacy and security of users at its centre," a company spokesperson told Reuters in an emailed statement. The tech giant argued it faces fierce competition in Germany and disagrees with the court's stance.


The legal fight isn't new. Back in January, a judge hinted the court was leaning toward the regulator's side. Apple's request to loop in the European Court of Justice in Luxembourg got shot down too, keeping the matter firmly in Germany's hands.

Scrutiny over Apple's App Store has been a sticking point in Europe. Regulators, including Germany's cartel office, have raised flags about the trove of user behavior data it collects. That's now a key focus for oversight. Cartel office president Andreas Mundt called the ruling a win. "This means that the highest court has confirmed that Apple is subject to stricter abuse control," he said in a statement. He added, "Our ongoing review of Apple's tracking regulation for third-party apps is therefore on a solid footing, and we are working flat out on this case and other cases against the major internet companies."

For now, the decision stands. Apple's next moves in Germany—and how regulators flex their newfound leverage—will be worth watching for anyone tracking the company's European playbook. Please download the iClarified app or follow iClarified on Twitter, Facebook, YouTube, and RSS for updates.