Spain Court Rules Meta Must Pay Media for Unfair Competition Practices

We’ve just seen a major development in Europe: a court in Spain has ordered Meta, the parent company of Facebook and Instagram, to pay €479 million to 87 Spanish digital media outlets. The court found that Meta used personal data from its users in a way that broke both data protection laws and competition rules. This isn’t just a fine, it’s a clear message. Big tech platforms can’t sidestep the rules to gain unfair advantages. For media companies, this could be a turning point in how they get paid and how they compete.

Background of the Case

The case centers on a group of Spanish media companies, including digital newspapers and news agencies, which accused Meta of unfair competition. These outlets are part of the Asociación de Medios de Información (AMI). They argued that between May 2018 and July 2023, Meta abused its user data to boost its ads on Facebook and Instagram.

What happened was this: when the EU’s General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) came into force in 2018, Meta changed its legal basis for collecting data. Instead of asking for user consent, Meta claimed it was necessary for “contract performance”. According to Spanish media, this change allowed Meta to track users too freely. Then the company used that data to sell highly targeted advertising, giving it a huge advantage over other digital media that didn’t have access to such deep profiling.

The media outlets demanded €551 million in compensation. They said Meta’s behavior hurt their ability to compete because they couldn’t match the personalized ad revenue Meta was generating.

The Court Ruling

On 20 November 2025, the Madrid Commercial Court No. 15 issued a ruling. The judge sided with the media. He ordered Meta to pay €479 million in damages, partial but still very significant. The court found that Meta obtained a “significant competitive advantage” by using personal data without a proper legal basis. In particular, the court said Meta’s switch from consent to “contractual necessity” was not enough under GDPR. The judge estimated that Meta earned €5,281 million in Spain over five years (2018–2023) from the online ad business tied to the disputed data use. Based on that, the court calculated the compensation owed to media companies in line with each outlet’s market share.

The ruling is based on Article 15.1 of Spain’s Law on Unfair Competition, which prohibits gaining a market advantage by breaking the law,  in this case, by violating GDPR.

Implications for Meta and Other Tech Giants

This ruling is more than just a payout. It’s a warning to big tech that they can’t break data laws and still dominate the ad market. For Meta, this could affect how it handles data in Europe going forward. It may need to rethink how it justifies collecting and using data, especially for behavioral ads. Financially, the €479 million is huge, but it might not be crippling for Meta. Still, if similar cases succeed elsewhere, the costs could add up. We should also watch other tech giants like Google, TikTok, or Snap, because they, too, rely on detailed user data for ad targeting. Regulators and media could use this case as a blueprint. Also, this ruling could strengthen the push for fairer compensation for the media. Platforms that host content, or benefit indirectly from news, may face more pressure to pay for their share of value.

Impact on Media Organizations

For Spanish media companies, this is a big win. Many smaller outlets and news agencies have struggled to compete with big tech for ad revenue. This ruling gives them financial recognition and a legal basis to demand fairer treatment in the digital ad market. The money Meta has to pay could be used to invest in journalism, digital infrastructure, or even pay salaries. That could help these outlets survive and grow in a challenging business environment.

Also, the ruling might change future negotiations between media and platforms. Rather than being purely adversarial, there could be more structured deals, licensing, or revenue-sharing models. This could reshape how content is shared and monetized.

Global Context and Precedents

Spain’s decision is not happening in a vacuum. Across Europe, regulators are increasingly scrutinizing how Big Tech uses data and gains market power. For instance, the European Commission fined Meta €797.72 million in 2024 for antitrust violations related to Facebook Marketplace. That shows the EU is serious about reining in Meta’s dominance not just in social media, but in the broader digital market.

There are also similar legal battles elsewhere. In France, media companies have made comparable claims against Meta. These cases may lean on the same arguments: misuse of user data, unfair competition, and the need for platforms to compensate content providers. All of this comes at a time when digital regulation is growing. Laws like the Digital Markets Act (DMA) and the Digital Services Act (DSA) are pushing tech companies to be more transparent and accountable. This Spanish ruling could become a key precedent in that broader push.

Conclusion

The Spanish court’s order for Meta to pay €479 million to digital media is a turning point. It highlights the real cost of exploiting user data without proper legal backing. For media companies, it’s a hard-won victory in a fight for fairness. For Meta (and other tech giants), it signals that regulatory pressure is not just financial, it’s structural. We may now see more cases like this across Europe. And as platforms rethink their data practices, the way media is funded and how ads are sold could change, permanently. This ruling could be the start of a more balanced digital ecosystem, where data rights, competition, and media survival coexist more fairly.

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The content shared by Meyka AI PTY LTD is solely for research and informational purposes. Meyka is not a financial advisory service, and the information provided should not be considered investment or trading advice.