The European Union regulators fined Meta, the parent company of Facebook, nearly 800 million euros on Thursday for what they described as "abusive practices" involving Meta's Marketplace, an online classified ads platform.
The European Commission, which is the EU's executive branch and top authority on antitrust matters, imposed a penalty of 797.72 million euros (about $841 million) after a lengthy investigation.
The probe concluded that Meta abused its dominant position and engaged in anti-competitive behaviour.
According to the Commission, Meta distorted competition by linking its Marketplace service directly to Facebook, forcing Facebook users to see Marketplace content even if they had no interest in it. This strategy effectively blocked competitors from reaching the same audience.
Another concern was Meta’s terms of service, which allowed the company to use advertising data from its competitors—who pay to advertise on Facebook or Instagram—to boost its own Marketplace platform. The Commission found this practice to be unfair to other businesses.
In response, Meta stated that the decision does not prove any "competitive harm" to its rivals or consumers. The company also argued that it overlooks the reality of a "thriving European market for online classified listing services."
Meta announced plans to appeal the ruling, challenging the EU's findings.
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