The French antitrust authority has notified Meta Platforms Inc. of potential violations of competition laws in the online advertising sector.
Accusations Against Meta
In a statement posted on July 9, the regulator accused Meta of exploiting its dominant position by limiting access to ad verification partnerships under allegedly opaque, discriminatory, and unfair terms. The notification, known as a statement of objections, does not determine the investigation's outcome, and Meta will be allowed to respond and defend itself.
Lawsuits from French Media
French media companies, including TF1, France TV, and BFM TV, have sued Meta over allegedly illegal business practices. This followed a case filed by a group of 67 media companies, representing 200 publications, in April. They claimed that Meta's leading position in the digital advertising market was largely due to illegal activities, including massive personal data collection.
Google's Situation and Similar Cases
Google is also facing legal challenges. Unlike Meta, Google is set to appear in court in Texas due to accusations of enforcing a digital advertising monopoly. In 2020, Google was found guilty in a similar scandal, with Texas and more than a dozen other states filing a lawsuit against the company for illegal ownership of advertising markets.
Thus, both Meta and Google are encountering significant legal challenges in the context of antitrust laws, highlighting increasing scrutiny on the practices of major tech companies in the online advertising market.
