Meta Faces €550 Million Lawsuit in Spain Over Alleged EU Data Privacy Violations
October 1, 2025
Meta is currently defending itself against a €550 million lawsuit in Spain filed by over 80 media organizations, including El Pais and La Vanguardia, over alleged breaches of EU data protection laws related to personalized advertising.
The Association of Media Industry (AMI) claims that Meta's practices threaten the viability of news media and give the company an unfair competitive edge.
Meta has denied any wrongdoing, asserting that the lawsuit is unfounded, and maintains that it complies with all relevant laws while offering users control options over their data.
The court proceedings, which began on October 1, 2025, include witness testimonies, expert reports, and are scheduled to conclude with closing arguments on October 2, 2025.
This legal battle follows a previous €200 million fine imposed on Meta by the European Commission in April for violating data privacy rules, a decision Meta has appealed.
Summary based on 16 sources
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Sources

Yahoo News • Oct 1, 2025
Spanish court opens 550-mn-euro Meta data protection trial
Yahoo News • Oct 1, 2025
Meta defends ads model in 550-mn-euro data protection trial
Economic Times • Oct 1, 2025
Meta defends ads model in €550 million data protection trial
The Times Of India • Oct 1, 2025
We have invested a huge amount: Facebook parent Meta defends its ad model in $650 million EU trial