Meta Platforms Inc., formerly Facebook Inc. – CJEU Judgment (European Union, 2023)
The Court of Justice ruled that Meta Platforms Inc. did not have a valid reason to process personal data without user consent. This decision is important because it reinforces the need for companies to be transparent about how they use people's data. Website operators should ensure they have proper consent mechanisms in place.
What happened
Meta tracked users across third-party websites using its Business Tools without obtaining their consent.
Who was affected
Website visitors whose browsing behavior was tracked by Meta's pixel code embedded on third-party sites.
What the authority found
The Court held that Meta lacked a valid legal basis for processing personal data, violating GDPR's requirements for user consent.
Why this matters
This ruling signals that courts are willing to hold tech platforms accountable for tracking tools they provide. Companies embedding Meta pixels should review their consent mechanisms.
GDPR Articles Cited
National Law Articles
{{CJEUdecisionBOX | Case_Number_Name = C‑252/21 | Date_Decided = 2023-07-07 | ECLI = ECLI:EU:C:2023:537 | Reference_Body = OLG Düsseldorf | Reference_Case_Number_Name = Kart 2/19 | Initial_Contributor = at | Judgement_Link = https://curia.europa.eu/juris/document/document.jsf?pageIndex=0&doclang=EN&docid=275125 | Opinion_Link = https://curia.europa.eu/juris/document/document.jsf?pageIndex=0&doclang=EN&docid=265901 | Party_Name_1 = Meta Platforms Inc., formerly Facebook Inc. | Party_Link_1 = https://about.meta.com/ | Party_Name_2 = Meta Platforms Ireland Limited | Party_Link_2 = | GDPR_Article_1 = Article 6(1)(a) GDPR | GDPR_Article_2 = Article 6(1)(f) GDPR | GDPR_Article_Link_1 = Article 6 GDPR#1a | GDPR_Article_Link_2 = Article 6 GDPR#1f | EU_Law_Name_1 = Article 4(3) TFEU | EU_Law_Name_2 = Article 101 TFEU | EU_Law_Link_1 = https://eur-lex.europa.eu/eli/treaty/tfeu_2016/art_4/oj | EU_Law_Link_2 = https://eur-lex.europa.eu/eli/treaty/tfeu_2016/art_101/oj | National_Law_Name_1 = § 19(1) GWB (in EN) | National_Law_Name_2 = § 32(1) GWB (in EN) | National_Law_Link_1 = https://www.gesetze-im-internet.de/englisch_gwb/englisch_gwb.html#p0062 | National_Law_Link_2 = https://www.gesetze-im-internet.de/englisch_gwb/englisch_gwb.html#p0227 | Party_Name_3 = Facebook Deutschland GmbH | Party_Name_4 = Bundeskartellamt | Party_Name_5 = Verbraucherzentrale Bundesverband e.V. | Party_Name_6 = | Party_Name_7 = | Party_Name_8 = | Party_Name_9 = | Party_Name_10 = | Party_Name_11 = | Party_Name_12 = | Party_Name_13 = | Party_Name_14 = | Party_Name_15 = | Party_Name_16 = | Party_Name_17 = | Party_Name_18 = | Party_Name_19 = | Party_Name_20 = | Party_Link_3 = | Party_Link_4 = https://www.bundeskartellamt.de | Party_Link_5 = https://www.vzbv.de/ | Party_Link_6 = | Party_Link_7 = | Party_Link_8 = | Party_Link_9 = | Party_Link_10 = | Party_Link_11 = | Party_Link_12 = | Party_Link_13 = | Party_Link_14 = | Party_Link_15 = | Party_Link_16 = | Party_Link_17 = | Part
Outcome
CJEU Judgment
A judgment by the Court of Justice of the European Union, typically on a preliminary reference from a national court.
Related Cases (0)
No other cases found for Meta Platforms Inc., formerly Facebook Inc. in EU
This is the only recorded case for this entity in this jurisdiction.
Details
About this data
Cite as: Cookie Fines. Meta Platforms Inc., formerly Facebook Inc. - European Union (2023). Retrieved from cookiefines.eu
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