Italian Antitrust Authority Slaps Meta with €3.5 Million Fine Over Unfair Practices

AGCM Fines Meta €3.5 Million for Lack of Transparency and Unfair Practices on Facebook and Instagram

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Italy’s antitrust regulator, Autorità Garante della Concorrenza e del Mercato (AGCM), has imposed a €3.5 million fine on Meta Platforms, the owner of Facebook and Instagram, for unfair commercial practices. The AGCM’s investigation revealed that Instagram users were not adequately informed about how their personal data was being used for commercial purposes. Additionally, users on both Facebook and Instagram were not properly informed about their rights to contest account suspensions.

This decision follows a broader dispute between Meta and the Italian Society of Authors and Publishers (SIAE) regarding music licensing. Earlier this year, negotiations between Meta and SIAE collapsed, prompting the AGCM to intervene. The authority discovered that Meta’s practices might have disadvantaged consumers and content creators by not being transparent about music licensing on its platforms.

Despite the fine, the AGCM acknowledged that Meta has since addressed these issues. Since August 2023, Meta has implemented several changes to enhance transparency for Italian users, particularly concerning how data is used for advertising on Instagram. A Meta spokesperson expressed disagreement with the AGCM’s decision and stated that the company is evaluating its options.

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