Meta gets statement of objections from French antitrust authority

The General Rapporteur of the Autorite de la concurrence announces that an objection has been notified to the Meta group, concerning practices implemented in the online advertising sector, which are likely to have consequences on several related markets for the provision of ad verification services and ad spaces. Meta is accused of abusing its dominant position by limiting access to partnerships for ad verification services on ad inventories sold by the group, under conditions that are not transparent, objective or non-discriminatory. This investigative act opens inter partes proceedings and enables the parties to exercise their rights of defense. It does not prejudge the guilt of the companies that have received a statement of objections. Only an inter partes investigation, respecting the rights of defense of the parties concerned, will enable the Board to determine, after exchanging written observations and following an oral hearing, whether the objections are well-founded. Following a complaint filed by Adloox on 9 October 2022 along with a request for interim measures against Meta, the Autorite ordered interim measures on May 4, 2023. Under the terms of the interim measures decision, the Autorite ordered Meta to define and make public new criteria for accessing and maintaining the “viewability” and “brand safety” partnerships that are objective, transparent, non-discriminatory and proportionate, and also issued interim measures to accelerate Adloox’s admission to the “viewability” and “brand safety” partnerships. The interim measures will remain in effect until the Autorite issues its decision on the merits of the case.