Brussels, November 14, 2024 – The European Commission has imposed a €798 million fine on Meta for breaching competition rules by linking its online advertising service, Facebook Marketplace, to its social network, Facebook.
The Commission found that Meta imposed "unfair trading conditions" on other online advertising service providers. This penalty marks the seventh-largest antitrust fine issued by the EU, following cases against Google, Apple, and Intel.
In response, Meta announced plans to appeal the decision, arguing it disregards the realities of the European market. The company stated that users have the option to engage with Facebook Marketplace, and many choose not to.
The fine reflects the duration and severity of the violation, considering Meta's reported revenue of approximately $135 billion in 2023. The Commission's investigation, initiated in June 2021, concluded that Facebook abused its dominant position by providing automatic access to Marketplace for all users, potentially sidelining competitors.
Margrethe Vestager, the European Commissioner for Competition, emphasized that Meta must cease these practices. The company is also facing scrutiny over its data usage policies, which could result in further penalties.