Facebook, now known as Meta Platforms, faces a GBP 2.3 billion (approximately Rs. 23,420 crore) class action in Britain over allegations it abused its market dominance by exploiting the personal data of 44 million users. .
Liza Lovdahl Gormsen, a senior adviser at Britain’s Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) and competition law scholar, said she was bringing the case on behalf of people in Britain who used Facebook between 2015 and 2019.
The suit, which will be heard by the London Competition Court of Appeal, alleges that Facebook made billions of pounds by imposing unfair terms and conditions that required consumers to hand over valuable personal data to access the network.
Quinn Emanuel Urquhart & Sullivan, the law firm representing Lovdahl Gormsen, notified Facebook of the complaint.
Facebook said people used its services because it added value to them and “they have significant control over what information they share on Meta’s platforms and with whom.”
The case comes days after Facebook lost an attempt to overturn a Federal Trade Commission (FTC) antitrust lawsuit, one of the U.S. government’s biggest challenges against a tech company in decades, as Washington tries to tackle Facebook’s extensive market power. Big Tech.
“In the 17 years since it was created, Facebook has become the only social network in the UK where you can be sure to connect with friends and family in one place,” said Lovdahl Gornsen.
“However, there was a dark side to Facebook; he abused his market dominance to impose unfair terms and conditions on ordinary Brits, giving him the power to exploit their personal data.”
Lovdahl Gormsen alleges that Facebook has collected data within its platform and through mechanisms such as the Facebook Pixel, allowing it to build a “comprehensive picture” of internet usage and generate profiles of valuable and in-depth user data.
Exclusion class actions, such as those by Lovdahl Gormsen, automatically link a defined group to a lawsuit unless individuals choose not to participate.
© Thomson Reuters 2022
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