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Brussels (ANSA) – The European Commission has fined Facebook’s parent company for violating competition rules. The accusation is twofold: according to Berlaymont Palace, the Californian group has abused its dominant position on social networks to benefit Facebook Marketplace, the popular platform for buying and selling second-hand goods.
“All Facebook users automatically have access to Facebook Marketplace and are regularly exposed to it, whether they want it or not,” is the reasoning of the Commission, according to which Facebook Marketplace’s competitors risk being “excluded from the market” if they cannot match this “substantial advantage”.
According to the European Antitrust, Meta has also imposed unfair commercial conditions on other classified online advertising service providers that advertise on its platforms, particularly on Facebook and Instagram. This practice allows Meta to use data relating to ads generated by other advertisers to the exclusive advantage of Marketplace.
The Vice President of the Commission, Margrethe Vestager, has thus ordered to “end this conduct” considered “illegal under EU antitrust rules”. Meta’s response was prompt, as it is also under scrutiny by Brussels for its rules on the use of personal data for targeted advertising. “The decision ignores – according to the social giant of Mark Zuckerberg – market realities and will only serve to protect historic marketplaces from competition”.
Berlaymont Palace, added Meta, has not provided “any evidence of competitive harm to rivals or harm to consumers”. For this reason, while committing to work “quickly and constructively” on “a solution addressing the raised points”, the tech giant has announced its intention to appeal against the Commission’s decision (November 14).