Meta Challenges EU Regulators Over ’Aberrant’ Antitrust Data Demands
Meta Platforms Inc. has escalated its legal battle with European Union regulators, filing a challenge against what it calls excessive document demands in ongoing antitrust probes. The case before the EU Court of Justice underscores growing tensions between Big Tech and competition watchdogs over investigative boundaries.
The dispute stems from two separate investigations into Facebook's social network operations and classified ads business. European Commission investigators required nearly one million documents from Meta, including sensitive personal data, using thousands of search terms across both cases.
Meta's legal team contends these requests represent regulatory overreach, testing the limits of proportionality in antitrust investigations. The company's appeal argues the demands lack proper judicial oversight, setting up a potential landmark ruling on regulator powers when the Court decides next year.
As antitrust scrutiny intensifies across tech platforms, the outcome may reshape compliance requirements for digital giants while prompting greater investment in specialized data management systems to handle expansive regulatory requests.
