MADRID: Spain has announced it will look into whether Meta violated the privacy rights of Facebook and Instagram users for spying, according to Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez.
“In Spain, the law takes precedence over any algorithm or major tech company. Those who infringe on our rights will face the consequences,” Sanchez said in a statement.
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The move follows international research suggesting that Meta employed a hidden tool to track the online activity of Android users, according to Sanchez’s office.
Spain’s investigation into the American tech giant could strain ties with Washington, which has criticized Madrid over missed NATO spending targets and its growing closeness with Beijing. The Trump administration has also voiced concerns about the EU’s Digital Markets Act and Digital Services Act, which aim to limit Big Tech’s influence and hold platforms accountable for harmful or illegal content.
According to Spain’s government, Meta may have breached several EU laws related to security and privacy, including the GDPR, ePrivacy Directive, DMA, and DSA. The company, led by Mark Zuckerberg, is expected to appear before a lower house parliamentary committee.
Meta has faced multiple legal challenges in Europe. In October, the European Commission said both Meta and TikTok failed to provide researchers adequate access to public data. The Commission also fined Meta €798 million ($923 million) in 2024 for unfair practices benefiting Facebook Marketplace, and in July last year, it charged the company for not complying with the DMA in its new advertising consent model.
