Facebook Gains Court Reprieve On EU Antitrust Data Request

Facebook has won the first round of its court battle against what it claims are excessive demands from European Union antitrust regulators after Europe’s second-top court temporarily halted such requests until it makes a final ruling, reported Reuters. 

The US social media group is being investigated by the European Commission for its trove of data and online marketplace, which may lead to hefty fines and orders to change its business practices.

Facebook, on July 15, sued the EU competition enforcer at the Luxembourg-based General Court, claiming that the Commission was seeking information beyond what is necessary, including highly personal details. 

It also asked for interim measures to stop a May 4 information request. Failure to comply could expose it to a daily penalty payment of €8 million (US$9.38 million).

The Court in a judgment dated July 24 suspended the EU request while waiting for the Commission’s comment and its ruling on Facebook’s application for interim relief. 

It stated such a move would “prevent a situation whereby the contested material is disclosed in violation of the fundamental right to privacy of the applicant’s management and employees, depriving any effect any order for interim measures that may eventually be granted.”

EU regulators are trawling documents looking for about 2,500 search phrases which include “big question,” “shut down,” and “not good for us,” which could be found in employees’ health information or even job applications, said a person familiar with the matter.

Full Content: Reuters

Want more news? Subscribe to CPI’s free daily newsletter for more headlines and updates on antitrust developments around the world.