Competition Markets Authority
Case timetable
| Date | Action |
|---|---|
| June 2023 to September 2023 | CMA consideration of representations received in response to the consultation on commitments |
| 26 May 2023 to 26 June 2023 | Commitments consultation period |
| 26 May 2023 | Consultation opened on commitments proposed by Meta |
| July 2022 to Summer 2023 | Further CMA analysis and review of information gathered |
| July 2022 | Decision taken to proceed with investigation |
| June 2021 to July 2022 | Initial investigation: information gathering, including issue of formal or informal information requests. CMA analysis and review of information gathered. |
| 3 June 2021 | Investigation opened |
Consultation on commitments
26 May 2023: The CMA published a notice of intention to accept commitments offered by Meta and invited representations from interested third parties on the proposed commitments. The CMA will consider any representations made in response to the consultation before making a final decision on whether or not to accept the proposed commitments.
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Consultation on proposed commitments in respect of Metas use of advertising data (26.5.23)
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Press release: Meta offers to limit use of businesses ad data to address CMA concerns (26.5.23)
Change log
The following changes have been made to the case timetable since it was first published in June 2021:
| Date of change | Reason for change | Change made to timetable |
|---|---|---|
| 15 February 2023 | Additional time required | Analysis and review, including of further information gathered, extended from Autumn 2022 to Summer 2023 |
| 7 April 2022 | Further evidence gathering and analysis | Initial investigation: information gathering, including issue of formal or informal information requests. CMA analysis and review of information gathered extended from February 2022 to Summer 2022 |
Case launch
3 June 2021: the CMA launched an investigation under Chapter II of the Competition Act 1998 into suspected breaches of competition law by Meta (formerly Facebook). The investigation concerns Metas conduct in relation to the collection and/or use of data in the context of providing online advertising services and its single sign-on function and whether this results in a competitive advantage over downstream competitors.
- Press release: CMA investigates Facebooks use of ad data (4.6.21)
Notes
- The investigation is under Chapter II of the Competition Act 1998.
- The CMA has not reached a view as to whether there is sufficient evidence of an infringement of competition law for it to issue a statement of objections. Not all cases result in the CMA issuing a statement of objections.
- The CMA will consider any representations it receives before any decision is taken as to whether competition law has in fact been infringed.
- Further detail of the CMAs procedures in Competition Act 1998 cases is available in?our guidance.
- Changes to the timing of original entries in the case timetable will be made if the estimated timing changes.
Personal data
The CMA may collect, use and share personal data for its investigations, including investigations under the Competition Act 1998. This includes processing personal data for the purposes of the UK General Data Protection Regulation and the Data Protection Act 2018.
You can find more information about how the CMA handles personal information in the CMAs Personal Information Charter.
Contacts
- Assistant Director: Chris Dodds (020 3738 6717, Chris.Dodds@cma.gov.uk)
- Assistant Director: Maria Rican-Sevitz (020 3738 6859, Maria.Rican-Sevitz@cma.gov.uk)
- Project Director: Deborah Wilkie (020 3738 6606, Deborah.Wilkie@cma.gov.uk)
- Senior Responsible Officer: Michael Grenfell (020 3738 6134, Michael.Grenfell@cma.gov.uk)
Media enquiries
020 3738 6460, press@cma.gov.uk