The European Union has issued its first antitrust penalty against Apple, fining the tech giant nearly $2 billion for unfairly favoring its own music streaming service over rivals. The European Commission found that Apple muzzled app developers from informing users about cheaper music subscription options outside of iOS apps, resulting in millions of European consumers paying higher prices for their music streaming services. The investigation was triggered by a complaint from Spotify five years ago, and the EU has since implemented new regulations to prevent tech giants from dominating digital markets. Apple has contested the decision and plans to appeal the penalty, arguing that the commission failed to uncover evidence of consumer harm and that the market is competitive. Spotify, on the other hand, welcomed the fine as a message against abusive power in the digital market. The commission's investigation focused on how Apple prevented app makers from informing users about alternative subscription pricing, resulting in over 20% of consumers not signing up for Spotify's premium service. The fine comes just before the implementation of the Digital Markets Act, which aims to prevent tech companies from dominating digital markets. Apple has already outlined plans to comply with the new rules, including allowing iPhone users in Europe to use alternative app stores and payment systems. EU Competition Commissioner Margrethe Vestager warned that Apple will be closely monitored to ensure compliance with the new regulations.