The European Union shared preliminary findings late last month that Apple violated the Digital Markets Act (DMA), which came into effect in March. Now it looks like Meta will face the wrath of the European Union. The EU ruled that the owner of Facebook and Instagram also violated the Digital Markets Act. The European Commission has previously investigated Apple, Google’s parent company Alphabet, and Meta.
The Commission’s preliminary findings on Meta focus on concerns about Meta’s “consent or pay” model, which currently offers users free access to its apps and the option to allow data sharing or pay to prohibit its collection.
The Commission’s statement alleges that Meta “does not allow users to opt for a service that uses less of their personal data but is otherwise equivalent to a ‘personalised ads’ based service” and that Meta “does not allow users to exercise their rights”.
Echoing past statements, the Commission called on Meta to create an “equivalent alternative” that would not require any fees. The EU regulator has until late March 2025 – a year after the start of the investigation – to make a final decision. If found guilty of breaching the DMA, the social media giant could face a fine equal to 10% of its annual global revenue.
Meta does not admit that he did wrong
Meta has yet to admit any wrongdoing. The company said in a statement: “Ad-free subscription follows the instructions of the highest court in Europe and complies with the DMA. We look forward to a more constructive dialogue with the European Commission to bring this investigation to a close.”