France Hits Apple with $162M Fine Over App Tracking Transparency, but Permits Continued Use

France has fined Apple $162.4 million over its App Tracking Transparency (ATT) feature but has not required any changes to the tool itself. The fine pertains to ATT's usage between 2021 and 2023, with the French regulator arguing that the implementation of ATT was neither necessary nor proportionate for protecting personal data. Additionally, it claimed that ATT disproportionately penalized smaller publishers by limiting their ability to use tracking data. Apple has expressed disappointment with the decision but noted that ATT can continue unchanged. The company is also required to publish the fine's details on its French website for seven days. Separately, Germany is investigating Apple’s use of ATT and a decision on a potential fine is pending.