Meta under scrutiny in France over digital Ad practices
With over 200 publications behind the lawsuit, the pressure is mounting as Meta faces legal fire across Europe.
Meta, the parent company of Facebook, is facing fresh legal backlash in France as 67 French media companies representing over 200 publications filed a lawsuit alleging unfair competition in the digital advertising market.
The case, brought before the Paris business tribunal, accuses Meta of abusing its dominant position through massive personal data collection and targeted advertising without proper consent.
The case marks the latest legal dispute in a string of EU legal challenges for the tech giant this week.
Media outlets such as TF1, France TV, BFM TV, and major newspaper groups like Le Figaro, Liberation, and Radio France are among the plaintiffs.
They argue that Meta’s ad dominance is built on practices that undermine fair competition and jeopardise the sustainability of traditional media.
The French case adds to mounting pressure across the EU. In Spain, Meta is due to face trial over a €551 million complaint filed by over 80 media firms in October.
Meanwhile, the EU regulators fined Meta and Apple earlier this year for breaching European digital market rules, while online privacy advocates have launched parallel complaints over Meta’s data handling.
Legal firms Scott+Scott and Darrois Villey Maillot Brochier represent the French media alliance.
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