French competition authority launches probe into Meta’s online advertising dominance
The French competition authority announced on Wednesday that it has formally notified Meta Platforms (META.O) of allegations that the company abused its dominant position in the online advertising market. The ongoing investigation, expected to last several months, does not imply immediate liability.
The probe was triggered by a complaint filed in October 2022 by Adloox, an advertising platform now owned by U.S.-based Scope3. In addition, French media giants such as TF1, France TV, and BFM TV are pursuing legal action against Meta over alleged unlawful business practices in the advertising sector.
Meta also faces a high-profile trial in Spain this October, where over 80 media companies have lodged a €551 million ($645 million) complaint accusing the firm of unfair competition in advertising.
Earlier this year, online rights groups filed complaints across Europe targeting Meta’s advertising practices. On the same day as the French announcement, EU antitrust regulators fined Meta and Apple for violations of European Union laws.