- Meta presses U.S. trade officials to challenge potential European fines, warning of a hit to its advertising model.
- EU’s Digital Services Act could force Meta to offer non-personalized ads to European users, impacting its revenue streams.
Mark Zuckerberg, CEO of Meta, is reportedly seeking assistance from the Trump administration to counter the European Commission’s potential crackdown on digital regulations.
The tech mogul, who has become increasingly aligned with Trump’s policies since his re-election in November, is said to be asking U.S. trade officials to intervene on Meta’s behalf.
The focus is a possible fine and cease-and-desist order over the company’s use of personalized ads across its platforms, including Facebook and Instagram.
This move follows a series of strategic shifts at Meta under Zuckerberg’s leadership. Notably, Meta disbanded its diversity, equity, and inclusion team, eliminated its fact-checking program, and brought UFC President Dana White onto its board. Zuckerberg’s ties to Trump have strengthened in recent months, with the CEO even attending Trump’s inauguration in 2017.
Now, Meta is urging the Trump administration to take a hard stance against the European Commission’s regulatory approach. The Commission’s Digital Services Act, adopted in 2022, mandates stricter regulations on social media giants, including rules on transparency and targeted advertising.
Meta is concerned that these changes could force it to offer European users access to its platforms without personalized ads, one of its key revenue streams.
A Meta spokesperson told the Wall Street Journal that the company sees the European Commission’s potential actions as part of a broader attempt to unfairly target American companies while giving Chinese and European competitors a pass. However, European officials maintain they apply the law equally to all companies, regardless of origin.
The looming regulatory challenges come as Trump is expected to announce new tariffs on the EU, a move that may further escalate tensions between the two entities. With a significant chunk of Meta’s earnings at stake, the company is hoping the U.S. will respond forcefully to the EU’s potential ruling.
