#Dispute resolution & regulatory investigations:
Targeted Advertising: the French Competition Authority imposes a €150,000,000 fine on Apple for implementation of the App Tracking Transparency (“ATT”) system
The French Competition Authority (Autorité de la concurrence) fined several Apple Group companies €150 million for abuse of a dominant position between 2021 and 2023. Apple had set up the App Tracking Transparency system, which consisted of obtaining users’ consent to the collection of their data for advertising targeting purposes via a standardized window when they used third-party app on an iPhone or iPad. Despite its legitimate purpose, this system violated competition law because the consent obtained by Apple did not exempt the third-party app from having to obtain consent as well, thus complicating the user experience to the detriment of small publishers, even though Apple used a simplified consent process for its own apps. > Read article
Jean Maïa appointed President of the French High Authority for Public Life Transparency
Jean Maïa will take over as President of the French High Authority for Transparency of Public Life (Haute Autorité pour la transparence de la vie publique) on 1st April 2025, succeeding Patrick Matet, who has been acting President since 24 September 2024. His appointment, proposed but the President of the Republic and approved by the French Parliament, reflects his commitment to strengthening control and improving the clarity of the institution’s actions. Jean Maïa is a former State Councillor and former Secretary General of the Constitutional Council. > Read article
#White collar crime:
Businessman Michel Ohayon taken into custody on suspicion of misuse of corporate assets
On 2 April 2024, businessman Michel Ohayon was taken into custody as part of a judicial investigation into misuse of corporate assets, bankruptcy, aggravated fraud and organized money laundering. The investigation, led by JUNALCO, was opened in April 2023 based on serious suspicions regarding possible misappropriation of funds to the detriment of several companies he headed, including Go Sport. Four people have also been taken into custody, although their identities have not yet been released. > Read article
Sentencing of Marine Le Pen: the main points of the judgment
In a decision delivered on 31 March 2025, the Paris Criminal Court (Tribunal correctionnel) found Marine Le Pen guilty of embezzling public funds in the case of the FN‘s parliamentary assistants. The former party president was sentenced to four years’ imprisonment, including two years under an electronic bracelet, and fined 100,000 euros. As an additional penalty, the Court imposed a five-year ineligibility sentence, to be served provisionally, which puts into question her candidacy for the 2027 presidential election. 24 people were also convicted, including the party, for their involvement in the embezzlement of public funds. > Read article
