Germany’s Federal Cartel Office (FCO) has ended its multi-year investigation into Meta’s data practices. Key outcomes include:
- Meta agrees to introduce an “Accounts Center” for data separation.
- Users can choose whether to combine third-party site data with Meta services.
- Facebook Login users can keep data separate without losing functionality.
- Data combination for security limited to predetermined periods.
- Meta commits to providing clear information on data combination settings.
While these changes are binding only in Germany, some may apply across Europe. The case highlights the intersection of competition law and privacy rights, potentially influencing future tech giant regulations.
