Apple was hit by French Antitrest regulators on Monday with a fine of 150 million euros ($ 162.4 million), which was to misuse its major position in mobile app advertisement on their equipment through a privacy control equipment. Fines – First by any antitrust regulator on Apple’s app tracking transparency tool – the company with a 1.8 billion euro antitrust by the European Union comes to the company with a 1.8 billion euro antitrust to thwart a year later to fail rival music streaming services at its app store.

The head of the French Competition Authority rejected the concern that the decision would promote vengeance from US President Donald Trump, who threatened to finer US companies on European Union countries. “We implement competition law in a political way,” Benoit Kore told a press conference. “But what we have heard … is that they (American officials) intend to enforce the antitrust law on large digital platforms as their predecessors. So in the context of the antitrust, I do not see any dispute between the United States and Europe that we apply the law,” he said.

The Att Tool iPhone and iPad allow users to decide which apps can track their activity. Digital advertisements and mobile gaming companies complained that it made it more expensive and difficult for brands to advertise on Apple’s platforms. Apple said in a statement, “While we are disappointed with today’s decision, the French Competition Authority does not require any specific changes for the ATT.”

Coeur told reporters that the regulator had not told how Apple should change its app, but that depending on the company, it was to ensure that it now complies with the ruling.

The compliance process may take some time, he said, because Apple was waiting for regulations in Germany, Italy, Poland and Romania who are also checking the ATT tool. The French case, which covered the duration of 2021 to 2023, was triggered by complaints from online advertisers, publishers and several associations for internet networks, accusing Apple to misuse his market power.

The regulator said in a statement, “The purpose chased by the ATT is not open in itself for criticism, the way it has been implemented is neither necessary nor proportional to the declared purpose of Apple for the protection of personal data.” It states that privacy equipment “especially punish small publishers,” because they depend to a large extent on the collection of third-party data to fund their businesses.

Alliance Digital, Syndicate Des Regase Internet (SRI), Union Des Entripress de Consil et D’Chat MDIA (UDECAM) and Group Des Dieters de Services N Ligne, who complained to the French Watchdog, said that the decision was a significant win for advertisers.