Meta to report quarterly earnings amid tariff uncertainty and AI investment
GuardianAPR 17
Meta Warns of 'Worse' EU Product Experience After Record Earnings, DMA Fine
Above: The logo of Meta Platforms, Inc. is displayed on a smartphone screen, with the company's latest stock market performance and candlestick chart visible in the background, on April 26, 2025 Image copyright: Cheng Xin/Getty Images News via Getty Images
The Spin
Pro-establishment narrative
Big U.S. companies like Meta and Apple must follow the same rules as everyone else if they want to access the benefits of a 450 million-strong European market. The EU is right to enforce regulations that protect users, ensure fair competition, and uphold democratic values. While America may play by different rules, Europe still abides by the rule of law, and profit can never come at the public’s expense.
Opposition narrative
The European Commission’s fine on Apple and Meta sets a dangerous precedent by unfairly targeting a successful U.S. company while competitors operate under looser rules. Forcing a business model to change due to political disagreements is nothing short of a de facto tariff that will not to tolerated. As a result, the decision will likely only hurt European advertisers and economies as U.S. companies adapt.