Facebook is Suing EU Antitrust Regulator Over This

Social media giant Facebook has sued the EU Antritrust Regulator over excessive data requests.

According to a statement from the company, Facebook is suing the regulator for seeking information beyond what is necessary, including highly personal details, for their investigations into the company’s data and marketplace.

It has been since 2019 that the company has been facing scrutiny from EU competition enforcers. Since then Facebook has provided 315,000 documents equivalent to 1.7 million pages to the Commission.

“The exceptionally broad nature of the Commission’s requests means we would be required to turn over predominantly irrelevant documents that have nothing to do with the Commission’s investigations, including highly sensitive personal information such as employees’ medical information, personal financial documents, and private information about family members of employees,” Facebook associate general counsel Tim Lamb said.

“We think such requests should be reviewed by the EU Courts.”

The Commission said it would be defending its case in court.

According to the court filing, Facebook is also seeking interim measures at the Luxembourg-based General Court, Europe’s second-highest, to halt such data requests until judges rule.

Recently Facebook agreed to pay $650 million to settle a years-long class action lawsuit over its use of facial recognition in what continues to be a less-than-great summer for the social media company.

Disclaimer: We have no position in Facebook, Inc. (NASDAQ: FB) and have not been compensated for this article.