In a legal clash, Meta, the corporate force steering Facebook, confronts a formidable €550 million lawsuit from AMI, representing 83 Spanish media entities.
Meta, the corporate entity behind Facebook, finds itself entangled in a substantial legal battle, facing a formidable €550 million lawsuit from AMI, a consortium representing 83 Spanish media entities.
This class action unfolds against the backdrop of allegations asserting unfair competition in the advertising domain, centering on Meta’s purported “massive” and “systematic” utilization of personal data gleaned from its Facebook, Instagram, and WhatsApp platforms.
The significance of this lawsuit extends beyond its monetary implications, as its outcome may set a precedent with the potential for replication across the European Union (EU).
Nicolas Gonzalez Cuellar, the legal representative for the media group, emphasized that “in any other EU country, the same legal proceeding could be initiated,” highlighting the transnational implications tied to the alleged breach of European regulations.
Among the aggrieved parties are notable entities such as Prisa, the publisher of Spain’s prominent newspaper El Pais, and ABC owner Vocento. Their grievance centers on the claim that a majority of advertisements circulated on Meta’s platforms exploit personal data without obtaining explicit user consent.
The crux of the matter revolves around the EU General Data Protection Regulation, a directive in force since 2018, alleging that Meta has violated this regulatory framework mandating explicit user authorization for the retention and utilization of personal data.
This legal skirmish illuminates the ongoing struggle between traditional news media and tech giants like Meta in the ever-evolving digital landscape. Newspapers, grappling with declining demand for print, have shifted their focus online, yet the digital realm has proven less lucrative.
Advertising revenues, once a staple for newspapers, are now contested by tech behemoths such as Meta and Google. The transformative shift in people’s news consumption, veering towards social networks over conventional news sites, has intensified this battle.
Attempts by newspapers globally to compel Meta to compensate for the use and dissemination of their content have faced formidable resistance.
This lawsuit emerges as a potent form of recourse that could significantly reshape the online news terrain, with potential ramifications resonating across the EU market—a legal ripple effect challenging the dynamics between traditional news outlets and digital platforms.
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© Digital Goliath Meta Engulfed in €550 Million Legal Battle With Spanish Media – Valencian.es
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