Apple has lost its appeal against Germany's Federal Cartel Office, which upheld a five-year regulatory designation imposing special competition controls on the tech giant. This ruling reinforces the scrutiny Apple faces in Europe, particularly regarding its App Tracking Transparency framework, which the FCO suspects may constitute self-preferencing. Apple's response highlighted its commitment to user privacy and competition, despite the court's decision. The ruling aligns Apple with other tech companies like Google and Meta, who are also under similar regulations aimed at ensuring fair competition in the digital landscape.