Meta has been fined €800m by the EU for breaching antitrust law in the Facebook Marketplace case
Meta Platforms has been fined 797.72 million euros (£663 million) by the European Commission for alleged anti-competitive practices involving Facebook Marketplace.
The European Union regulator ruled that Meta violated competition rules by linking its social network to Facebook Marketplace, giving it an unfair advantage over rival online classifieds services.
Margrethe Vestager, the European Commission’s senior vice president for competition policy, said Meta’s actions gave the company “advantages that other online classified ad service providers cannot match,” which it considers illegal under EU antitrust laws. “Now Meta must stop this behavior,” said Vestager.
Meta has announced plans to appeal the decision. The company, which also owns Instagram and WhatsApp, said the decision fails to prove “competitive harm” to its competitors or consumers and “ignores the realities of the thriving European market for online listing services.” Meta argued that many Facebook users choose not to engage with the Marketplace, highlighting that it remains an optional feature.
Facebook launched its Market platform in 2016 and expanded across Europe the following year. The European Commission started its investigation into Meta’s practices in 2021. Under EU antitrust laws, companies found in violation risk fines of up to 10% of global revenue.
This decision is part of Meta’s ongoing push within the EU. Last year, the company faced a record €1.2 billion fine for breaching EU data privacy rules. Ireland’s Data Protection Commission found that Meta failed to adequately protect European users’ data when it was transferred to the United States, where it was exposed to surveillance by US authorities. Meta’s European operations are headquartered in Dublin.
In the United States, Meta is also under scrutiny. The Federal Trade Commission has sued the company over its purchases of Instagram and WhatsApp, alleging that it was aimed at eliminating competition. Meta defended the acquisition, saying it “gained competition with consumers alike.”
As the EU continues to tighten its grip on big tech companies, Meta has delayed the release of its latest AI model in Europe, citing “unforeseen” regulatory circumstances. This latest antitrust fine underscores the European Union’s growing determination to control the market dominance of US-based tech giants.
Meanwhile, changes in the EU’s approach may be imminent as Margrethe Vestager, who has won huge fines against US tech firms, prepares to step down as competition commissioner. He is expected to be followed by Teresa Ribera, Spain’s environment minister, who is expected to moderate the scrutiny of technology companies and support for European businesses.
