France Antitrust Watchdog Alleges Meta Abused Power in Online Ads

France’s Competition Authority said on 9 July it has issued a formal statement of objections to Meta Platforms, indicating the US technology group may have breached national competition rules in the online advertising market. Investigators allege Meta abused its dominant position by restricting advertisers’ access to third-party ad-verification partners—tools that help clients independently measure the performance and safety of their campaigns. The objections mark a preliminary step; Meta now has the opportunity to review the case file, submit written observations and request an oral hearing before any final decision is taken. The regulator did not specify a timeline for the investigation’s next phase. Meta said it is reviewing the allegations and will cooperate with the authority’s proceedings.