Spanish Media Outlets Seek $600 Million in Damages from Meta in Anti-Competitive Lawsuit
A coalition of 83 Spanish media outlets has filed an anti-competitive lawsuit against Meta, seeking $600 million in damages. The group accuses Meta of repeatedly violating EU data protection rules in order to dominate the local ads market. Specifically, the coalition claims that Meta has collected user data without obtaining explicit consent, which is required under the EU General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR). Meta has been working on various interpretations of the GDPR to address the issue of user consent. In January, the company outlined how it was reframing the requirements of its apps to comply with the GDPR. However, the Spanish media coalition argues that Meta’s interpretation of the legislation is insufficient and that the company’s practices are in violation of the GDPR. Meta has yet to comment on the lawsuit.
Evolving EU data regulations have posed challenges for website operators, who must adhere to new requirements around user consent and data permissions. In response, major companies have tried to find loopholes in the system to continue offering their services without disrupting their processes. Meta’s latest strategy is to offer an ad-free subscription package for EU users, allowing the company to maintain its ad-serving business model while giving users the option to opt out if they pay for the subscription. However, this approach has also faced criticism, with a privacy group filing a complaint claiming that it violates GDPR rules. The complex legal landscape surrounding privacy laws in Europe is still being clarified, and Meta’s legal team can expect to face ongoing challenges in the EU courts.
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– teat.ai
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