Meta Criticizes EU’s “Aberrant” Antitrust Data Demands on Facebook — Latest Development on 26 November 2025

Meta Slams EU’s ‘Aberrant’ Antitrust Demands for Facebook Data

On 26 November 2025, a major conflict reignited between Meta and the European Union, as Meta sharply criticized the EU’s latest antitrust investigation, calling the regulator’s data demands “aberrant, excessive, and legally unjustifiable.” According to updated EU documents reviewed by multiple credible news outlets, European regulators have requested extensive data from Facebook’s advertising, user-behavior analytics, and internal decision-making systems—a move Meta says crosses all reasonable limits of competition oversight.

The EU’s Competition Authority is examining whether Meta unfairly uses its dominance in digital advertising to suppress competitors. As part of its investigation, Brussels demanded access to information covering Facebook’s algorithmic signals, advertisement performance data, retention metrics, and AI-driven recommendation logs.

Meta responded strongly, stating that the scope of the data request is disproportionate and threatens user privacy, as it includes sensitive insights into how Facebook’s systems operate. The company argued that the EU is asking for large volumes of information that are irrelevant to any legitimate antitrust purpose, potentially exposing confidential technologies that Meta considers core trade secrets.

According to Meta’s legal team, many of the requested datasets would require extracting, compiling, and recreating internal logs that do not even exist in fixed form. Meta claims that forcing the company to produce such data amounts to compelling it to create new records solely for regulatory scrutiny, which the company insists is outside the EU’s legal authority.

EU regulators, however, maintain that the information is necessary to determine whether Facebook abuses its market position, especially in the fast-growing AI-powered digital advertising sector. Officials say the investigation seeks to understand if Meta uses its vast user data pool to create barriers that prevent new competitors—particularly smaller European tech firms—from entering the market.

In response to Meta’s objections, Brussels issued a statement asserting that cooperation with antitrust investigations is not optional. The EU emphasized that all “dominant technology platforms” are expected to comply fully with information requests, particularly when consumer privacy, fair competition, and digital transparency are at stake.

The clash marks yet another chapter in Meta’s long-running battle with the EU, which has intensified regulation under the Digital Markets Act (DMA) and Digital Services Act (DSA). Both laws impose stricter rules on major tech platforms to ensure competitive fairness and protect consumers.

Meta has warned that the EU’s latest demands, if enforced, could set a dangerous precedent affecting all global technology companies operating in Europe. The company has signaled it may consider legal action if the EU insists on obtaining the disputed datasets.

This developing situation will remain a major point of tension between Silicon Valley and European regulators, as both sides continue to shape the future of digital competition and data governance across the continent.