UE fines Meta with €800 million for ads on Facebook

EU regulators have fined Meta Platforms Inc., the parent company of Facebook, nearly €800 million for alleged "abusive practices" related to its Marketplace online classified ads business.

UE fines Meta with €800 million for ads on Facebook

The European Commission, the executive arm of the 27-nation bloc, imposed a €798 million penalty following a lengthy investigation that concluded Meta abused its dominant market position and engaged in anti-competitive behavior. Brussels accused Meta of distorting competition by linking its Marketplace service to its social network, automatically exposing Facebook users to Marketplace ads regardless of their interest, effectively sidelining competitors. Additionally, regulators were concerned that Meta's terms of service unfairly allowed it to use ad-related data from competitors who advertise on Facebook or Instagram to boost its own Marketplace platform.

Meta responded

Meta responded by stating that the decision fails to demonstrate any "competitive harm" to rivals or consumers, arguing that it overlooks the realities of the vibrant European market for online classified ads. The company, based in Menlo Park, California, announced plans to appeal the ruling.