Meta Under Fire: Accusations of Advertising Domination in Europe

The French competition authority has formally accused Meta Platforms of misuse of power in the online advertising sphere, according to a statement released on Wednesday. Meta, which owns Facebook, is under investigation following accusations of exploiting its dominant market position, a probe that could take several months.

This inquiry originated from a complaint filed by advertising platform Adloox in October 2022, now owned by Scope3. Additionally, major French media companies, like TF1 and France TV, have initiated legal action against Meta, asserting illegal corporate maneuvers.

In parallel developments, Meta is facing a significant legal challenge in Spain, with over 80 media entities charging the company with unfair advertising practices worth 551 million euros. Furthermore, European regulators have imposed fines on Meta for violating EU antitrust laws.

(With inputs from agencies.)