Investigation into Meta's (formerly Facebook) use of data

The CMA has accepted commitments that address the CMA’s competition concerns regarding Meta’s use of data obtained through digital display advertising.

From:

Competition and Markets Authority

Published 4 June 2021

Last updated 3 November 2023 — See all updates

Case type: CA98 and civil cartels

Case state: Closed

Market sector: Communications

Outcome: CA98 - commitments

Opened: 3 June 2021

Closed: 3 November 2023

1. Case timetable
2. Decision to accept binding commitments
3. Consultation on commitments
4. Change log
5. Case launch
6. Notes
7. Personal data
8. Contacts
   1. Media enquiries

Case timetable

Decision to accept binding commitments

3 November 2023: The CMA published its decision to accept commitments from Meta that allow competitors advertising on Meta platforms to opt out of certain ad data being used by Meta in Facebook Marketplace. The commitments also include Meta limiting the way it uses certain ad data in product development in the UK.

Formal acceptance of commitments by the CMA has brought the investigation to an end, with no decision being made as to whether the Competition Act 1998 has been infringed.

• Decision to accept commitments (PDF, 639KB) (3.11.23)
• Commitments (PDF, 700KB) (3.11.23)
• News story: CMA protects competition by curbing Meta’s use of ad customers’ data (3.11.23)
• Press notice: CMA secures improvements in ways Amazon and Meta treat competitors, benefiting customers (3.11.23)

Consultation on commitments

26 May 2023: The CMA published a notice of intention to accept commitments offered by Meta and invited representations from interested third parties on the proposed commitments. The CMA will consider any representations made in response to the consultation before making a final decision on whether or not to accept the proposed commitments.

• Consultation on proposed commitments in respect of Meta’s use of advertising data (26.5.23)

• Press release: Meta offers to limit use of businesses’ ad data to address CMA concerns (26.5.23)

Change log

The following changes have been made to the case timetable since it was first published in June 2021:

Case launch

3 June 2021: the CMA launched an investigation under Chapter II of the Competition Act 1998 into suspected breaches of competition law by Meta (formerly Facebook). The investigation concerns Meta’s conduct in relation to the collection and/or use of data in the context of providing online advertising services and its single sign-on function and whether this results in a competitive advantage over downstream competitors.

• Press release: CMA investigates Facebook’s use of ad data (4.6.21)