The authority said that Meta combined user data across its platforms without proper user consent, giving the tech giant an unfair advantage in the social media and advertising markets.
The fine amounts to nearly 4.8 million lira ($149,512.22) per day, retroactive to December 12th, 2023, and will continue until Meta changes its data-sharing notification message.
The investigation began in 2021, with the authority demanding Meta address competition concerns by December 9th, 2023. However, the watchdog deemed the company's proposals unsatisfactory.
Additionally, the Competition Authority imposed a temporary measure prohibiting data sharing between Instagram and Threads, a microblogging app owned by Meta. The authority claims users creating Threads profiles based on their Instagram accounts weren't given the option to opt-out of data sharing.
The decision highlights growing concerns about Big Tech companies leveraging vast user data troves to dominate markets. Regulators worldwide are increasingly scrutinizing data-sharing practices to ensure a level playing field for competitors. (ILKHA)