Crystal Dike
A Spanish court on Thursday ordered Facebook owner Meta to pay €479 million ($552 million) in compensation, plus €60 million in interest, to local media outlets for “unfair competition” arising from violations of EU data protection rules.
The case stems from a 2023 lawsuit filed by Spain’s main media association, AMI, which accused Meta of systematically breaking the law between May 2018 and July 2023 by using personal data to create targeted advertising without user consent.
A Madrid commercial court ruled last month in favour of AMI, finding that Meta gained a “significant competitive advantage” in digital advertising sales by violating data protection rules. AMI had sought €551 million in compensation.
“This isn’t a case that affects only AMI’s outlets; it has implications for media worldwide,” AMI director general Irene Lanzaco said. “What’s at stake is the very survival of news media, which is being threatened by the predatory behaviour of a platform like Meta, acting with no regard for our legal framework.”
Meta executives argued during the trial that user data mattered less than algorithms in generating personalised advertising. Company lawyer Javier de Carvajal called the compensation claims “unsupported by evidence” and urged the court to dismiss them.
The awarded compensation will be distributed among 87 media outlets, including Prisa (owner of El País), Vocento (ABC), and Unidad Editorial (El Mundo).
Spanish radio and television stations have filed a separate lawsuit against Meta seeking €160 million in damages. On Wednesday, Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez said Spain would investigate Meta for allegedly violating millions of users’ privacy and summoned the company to answer before parliament.