Apple faces ongoing legal troubles as it grapples with lawsuits and significant fines. The latest development involves a hefty €150 million (approximately $162.4 million) penalty imposed by French antitrust regulators for the misuse of its App Tracking Transparency (ATT) privacy tool.

This move marks yet another chapter in the company’s tumultuous relationship with regulatory bodies, particularly in Europe. The ATT tool, introduced to enhance user control over data sharing, mandates that apps request permission to track user activity across other applications and websites.

While the intent behind ATT is widely accepted, critics—including online advertisers and publishers—argue that its implementation gives Apple an unfair advantage in the mobile app market. French regulators echoed these sentiments, remarking that while the tool’s objective is commendable, its execution is neither necessary nor proportional to its stated aim of protecting personal data.

The regulators have stated that while the tool itself may remain unchanged, modifications to its usage are essential to mitigate the consequences of the fine. However, they did not specify what alterations are required, leaving Apple much to consider in terms of compliance.

Apple has been given a seven-day deadline to announce its plan concerning the regulators’ ruling. This development follows a recent privacy lawsuit against the company in France, which accused Apple of improperly collecting Siri voice recordings to bolster its advertising business.

In response to the fine, Apple expressed disappointment but noted that the French Competition Authority has not mandated specific changes to ATT. The company now faces the challenge of determining how to approach compliance, creating uncertainty about its next steps in the wake of these proceedings.