A lawsuit seeking 550 million euros ($600 million) has been collectively filed by a group of 83 Spanish media outlets against Meta Platforms, the owner of Facebook, citing unfair competition in the advertising market. The AMI media association, representing the newspapers, alleges that Meta violated EU data protection rules from 2018 to 2023. The media outlets argue that Meta’s extensive use of personal data from Facebook, Instagram, and Whatsapp users provides an unfair advantage in designing personalized ads, constituting unfair competition. The complainants claim that most Meta ads use personal data without explicit client consent, violating the EU General Data Protection Regulation. The lawsuit could potentially be replicated across the European Union. Meta has not yet responded to the legal action, and the company is yet to receive the legal documents. The case reflects ongoing efforts by traditional media to challenge tech giants in legal proceedings, aiming to protect their interests in the evolving digital landscape. In various countries, media organizations have sought fair compensation from tech giants for using and sharing their content, with regulatory measures being introduced to address the issue.
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