Competition Authority fines Meta 4.8 million TL

The Competition Authority has imposed a daily fine of 4.8 million TL on Meta following an investigation into WhatsApp's data-sharing obligations via a software update in 2021.

INVESTIGATION PROCESS

The Board issued an interim injunction requiring Meta to stop using WhatsApp user data in other services and to inform all users.

Meta claimed that the update would not be implemented in Turkey, that users would be allowed to continue using the applications routinely, and that no consent requests would be sent to Turkish users.

META DID NOT COMPLY WITH INVESTIGATION DECISIONS

As a result of the investigation, Meta was fined 346 million TL for violating competition laws by collecting data from Facebook, Instagram, and WhatsApp.

Meta was instructed to rectify the violation, promote market competition, and submit a compliance plan by December 9, 2023; however, Meta's proposals were found insufficient, and it was decided to impose a daily fine starting from December 12, 2023, until a satisfactory solution is provided. The fine has already exceeded 140 million liras.

Regarding similar obligations under the Digital Markets Act, the nature of the regulations between Meta and the EU Commission remains uncertain while awaiting the solution the company has proposed to Turkey.

News Source: 12punto