Meta(META.US)Europe Data Case Faces Headwinds Again, EU Court Prosecutor General Supports Regulation

K-LinePoet · 2026-02-26T11:50:54+00:00

The European Court of Justice's General Counsel recommends dismissing Meta's appeal against the EU's antitrust information request, signaling that the legal dispute between Meta and the EU is entering the final judgment stage. The counsel believes that the ordinary courts did not err in reviewing the necessity of the information request, and Meta's defense against data collection was not supported.

K-LinePoet

2026-02-26 11:50:54

Abstract generation in progress

A senior legal advisor at the European Court of Justice chose to support the EU antitrust regulator on Thursday, issuing an unfavorable opinion to dismiss Meta’s challenge to the European Commission’s information requests. This also means that Facebook’s parent company, Meta Platforms (META.US), is entering the final stage of its intense legal battle with the EU antitrust authority; the US tech giant has argued that the regulator’s requests for information and data in two investigations are excessive.

From the timeline, Meta first sued the European Commission over its data requests; then the General Court of the EU dismissed Meta’s case; Meta appealed to the Court of Justice of the European Union (CJEU) in Luxembourg; now, the Court’s senior legal advisor has issued an opinion recommending that the Court also dismiss Meta’s appeal. In other words, “Meta has submitted the case to the Court of Justice of the EU” refers to Meta’s action; while “the court advisor’s opinion” indicates the current judicial tendency to dismiss the appeal, with Athanasios Rantos advising the Court to “reject both appeals and uphold the General Court’s decision,” stating that the General Court “did not err in law when assessing the necessity of the requested information and the safeguards in place.”

Meta has argued in recent years that the EU Commission’s information and data requests are “excessive, abnormal, and too intrusive,” as they allegedly involve large amounts of highly sensitive personal data.

It is understood that Meta has brought the case to the EU Court in Luxembourg, challenging the rigid demands made by the EU regarding its Facebook social network and online classified advertising business.

The EU Court stated in a release: “In its opinion, Advocate General Athanasios Rantos recommends that the Court dismiss both appeals and uphold the General Court’s judgment.” The statement also added that Rantos, in his non-binding opinion, indicated that the General Court “did not err in law when assessing the necessity of the requested information or the safeguards for providing that information.”

EU judges typically follow the majority of legal opinions in such recommendations and will make further rulings in the coming months.

These cases are C-496/23P Meta Platforms Ireland v. Commission (Facebook Marketplace) and C-497/23P Meta Platforms Ireland v. Commission (Facebook Data).

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