Legal

Spanish media group files €550m lawsuit against Meta

Group has accused tech giant of gaining an unfair advantage in advertising market by violating EU data law

Meta: Facebook-parent firm is accused of building a “dominant position in the advertising market by disregarding the regulations designed to protect the fundamental right to privacy of European citizens”. Picture: Getty

A group representing 83 Spanish media outlets has said it has filed a €550 million lawsuit against Meta, alleging that Facebook’s parent firm has “illegitimately obtained a competitive advantage” in the advertising market.

The Information Media Association (AMI) has accused Meta of demonstrating “systematic and massive non-compliance with European data protection regulations” during the period from May 2018 and July 2023.

It alleged that through accessing user’s personal data without their consent, the tech giant ...