Spain: Commercial Court No. 15 of Madrid issued ruling in Europa Press and others v Meta Platforms Ireland (Ordinary Procedure 109/2024) awarding EUR 479 million for unfair competition as a result of data protection violations

On 19 November 2025, the Commercial Court No. 15 of Madrid issued ruling No. 98/2025 in the case Europa Press and others v Meta Platforms Ireland (Ordinary Procedure 109/2024), partially upholding a claim brought by 87 Spanish media companies against Meta for unfair competition under Article 15.1 of the Unfair Competition Act (LCD). The court found that Meta had unlawfully processed the personal data of Facebook and Instagram users in Spain for behavioural advertising purposes between 25 May 2018 and 31 July 2023, relying on invalid legal bases for processing personal data under the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR). The court determined that Meta had gained a significant competitive advantage over its competitors in digital advertising by conducting unlawful data processing. The ruling ordered Meta to compensate the claimant media companies for lost revenues totalling EUR 479.12 million for press publishers and advertising rights holders, EUR 2.57 million for Europa Press Noticias S.A. and associated companies, and EUR 13'562.84 for Radio Blanca S.A.U., plus accrued legal interest of EUR 60'467'156.85 (approx. EUR 60.47 million). The court rejected the claim under Article 15.2 LCD concerning abuse of dominant position, finding insufficient evidence of the relevant market and Meta's market dominance.