Meta Platforms (META, Financial), the parent company of Facebook, is under legal scrutiny in Europe. A group of 67 French media companies, including TF1, France Télévisions, and BFM TV, has filed a collective lawsuit against Meta in the Paris Commercial Court. They accuse the company of unfair competition in the digital advertising market, alleging that Meta monopolizes by collecting user data for targeted advertising.
The lawsuit, representing about 200 publishing media outlets, claims Meta's practices violate fair business principles by establishing an illegal advertising dominance in France. Meta has yet to respond publicly to these allegations. This case is part of a series of recent European legal actions against Meta. In addition, a separate lawsuit in Spain involves over 80 media outlets accusing Meta of monopolistic behavior and unfair competition, demanding 551 million euros.
Earlier this year, European internet rights groups lodged complaints against Meta's advertising operations, while the EU antitrust regulators fined Meta and Apple (AAPL) for competition law violations. The French lawsuit includes major media players such as Le Figaro, L'Express, Liberation, Radio France, and Lagardère Group, highlighting industry-wide concern over Meta's influence in the advertising market.
