Brussels’ “preliminary conclusions” consider that Meta does not “comply” with the Digital Markets Law due to the ad subscription service on Facebook and Instagram.
The European Commission considers that Meta is violating the Digital Markets Act (DMA) with the subscription model imposed in November on Instagram and Facebook, through which, upon payment, European users can stop seeing ads. In a statement announcing its “preliminary conclusions,” Brussels accuses technology of not allowing “Users choose a service that uses less personal databut is equivalent to that based on ‘personalized ads’.
The community executive also argues that Meta – which forces individuals to choose between a monthly subscription to not see ads on Instagram and Facebook or free access to social networks with “personalized ads” – does not allow “users to exercise their right to freely give consent to the combination of their personal data.”
One of the articles of the Digital Markets Law defines, precisely, that companies that are considered “access controllers”, such as Meta, must “obtain the consent of users to combine their personal data between the main services of the designated platform [da gatekeeper] and other services.” If the user refuses to give consent, “he should have access to a less personalized, but equivalent alternative,” something that will not be happening on technology platforms.
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The European Commission indicates that Meta must now present, in writing, its “defense” arguments against the accusations and recalls that the investigation, opened on March 25, will conclude within a period of 12 months. Quoted by the Reuters agency, after the publication of the Brussels statement, Meta maintains that the subscription service “follows the guidelines of the highest court in Europe and complies with the DMA.”
Last week, the EU executive had already found that another technology company, Apple, was violating the Digital Markets Act. At that time, it accused the American company of, through the rules it imposes on the App Store, prevent “app developers from freely directing consumers to alternative channels.”
Brussels accuses Apple of violating the Digital Markets Law and opens another investigation into the company
Source: Observadora
