The American company Meta This Thursday presented an appeal before the General Court of the European Union against the fine of 200 million euros that the European Commission imposed last April for forcing users to pay a subscription to avoid advertising in Instagram y Facebook.
The community executive considered that this practice is contrary to the Digital Markets Law (DMA).
However, Meta alleges that Brussels has not respected a judgment of the EU Court of Justice, which in 2023 pointed out that a “dominant company can obtain a valid consent offering users the possibility of choosing between a service based on subscription and a free and personalized service with advertising.”
In a message in its corporate blog, the company added that the Commission has not taken into account other sentences in EU countries and decisions of the data protection authorities in Germany, France and Denmark that allow companies to offer a subscription service to avoid personalized advertising.
The company also defended that its personalized advertising model generated 213,000 million euros and 1.44 million jobs in the European Union in 2024.
Apart from the fine that the commission imposed in April, Meta has avoided now having to pay a periodic sanction of up to 5 % of the average of its daily global turnover, because before June 26 it presented to the Community Executive changes in its subscription policy.
“The Commission understands that target, in response to the non -compliance decision, will only make small changes to the advertising options that announced in 2024,” said Tomas ReGnier, spokesperson for sovereignty technology of the European Commission, which is analyzing the company’s modifications.
In November 2024 Meta announced a 40% reduction in the subscription it offers to Facebook and Instagram users to avoid advertisements And the possibility, for those who do not pay the quota, to see less personalized advertising. Some changes that did not avoid the fine.
Brussels is also analyzing the changes announced by Apple, to whom the commission also fined in April with 500 million euros for preventing mobile application developers from announcing alternative offers outside the App Store.
The Cupertino company – which has also resorted to the sanction – announced last week that it will authorize mobile application developers in the European Union to inform users of offers on alternative websites, in other online markets or in ‘Apps’ stores other than Apple’s.
He also reported that he will introduce changes in the 0.5 euros rate that currently charges their competitors of mobile application stores.