Meta Platforms (NASDAQ:META), the parent company of Facebook, Instagram, and WhatsApp, is set to face a trial in October 2025 after a Spanish court scheduled hearings in a lawsuit accusing the tech giant of unfair competition in advertising.
The lawsuit, filed by more than 80 media companies, seeks to hold Meta accountable for its alleged misuse of user data in ways that give it an unfair advantage in digital advertising.
The 551 million euro ($582 million) claim, lodged by the AMI media association, which represents 87 Spanish media firms, centers on accusations that Meta violated European Union data protection laws between 2018 and 2023.
According to the plaintiffs, Meta's "massive" and "systematic" use of personal data from its platforms has enabled it to offer highly personalized ads, which the media companies argue undermines competition by distorting the advertising market.
The trial will begin on October 1, 2025, at the 15th Madrid commercial court, with a second hearing scheduled for the following day, the court announced on Friday.
Among the complainants are major Spanish newspaper publishers, including Prisa, the publisher of El Pais, and Vocento, which owns ABC newspaper.
These companies contend that Meta's advertising practices have significantly harmed traditional media outlets by enabling the tech giant to dominate the online advertising space, leveraging personal data to deliver targeted ads that traditional media cannot match.
A Meta spokesperson declined to comment on the lawsuit when reached for a statement.