According to a new European ruling, regulators can now scrutinize how companies use data in their current position of power.

Facebook and Europe, it may never be a happy marriage. After previously strict data protection rules and an attempt to block them, she is once again in the crosshairs of the EU. A court case in Luxembourg today ruled that regulators can now review the purpose of data collected by big tech companies.

The ruling states that Facebook cannot “justify” using personal data to target users with specific ads unless Facebook expressly consents to it. Since these companies often have a monopoly position, this also has anti-competitive effects, according to the Luxembourg court.

The Federal Cartel Office informs the Financial Times that the consequences of this judgment could be significant. “It sends a strong signal for the control of competition in the digital economy, a playing field where data is important to dominate the market.” abusive” applies.

The German authority is once again making itself heard after enforcing a rule in 2019 that would not allow Facebook to combine data with WhatsApp for targeted advertising without the user’s consent.

Meta tentatively responds with a brief statement that she’s “reviewing the court’s decision and will say more if necessary.”