Facebook Owner Meta Gets $3.8 Million Antitrust Fine in Italy

By Adria Calatayud

Italy's competition watchdog fined Facebook and Instagram parent Meta Platforms 3.5 million euros ($3.8 million) over what it called unfair commercial practices when signing up new users and managing account suspensions.

The authority said Wednesday that Meta ceased the practices that were the object of the fine in the course of the proceedings.

Meta disagrees with the Italian Competition Authority's decision and is assessing its options, a spokesperson said. The company implemented changes for Italian users to address the authority's concerns since August last year, the spokesperson said.

In particular, the authority was concerned about the information Instagram gave users about the collection and use of their data for commercial purposes as part of the registration process and its handling of the suspension of Facebook and Instagram users' accounts. The authority said these practices breached Italy's Consumer Code.

The Meta spokesperson said the changes the company introduced include increased transparency on how it uses data to show advertising on Instagram and enhanced information and options on how users can appeal account suspensions.

Write to Adria Calatayud at adria.calatayud@wsj.com

(END) Dow Jones Newswires

June 05, 2024 06:49 ET (10:49 GMT)

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