Turkey’s competition board has fined Meta Platforms 1.2 billion lira, equivalent to $37.20 million, after concluding two separate investigations into data-sharing practices on Facebook, Instagram, WhatsApp, and Threads. The board launched the investigation in December to scrutinize potential competition law violations linked to the integration of Meta’s social media platforms, particularly focusing on Threads and Instagram. In March, the board imposed an interim measure aimed at preventing data sharing between these platforms, leading Meta to temporarily shut down Threads in Turkey.
On Wednesday, the board announced a fine of 898 million lira related to compliance processes and investigations involving Facebook, Instagram, and WhatsApp. Additionally, a 336 million lira fine was imposed for a separate investigation into Threads. The board’s decision permits users to merge personal data between Facebook, Instagram, and WhatsApp with their explicit consent, ensuring users are informed about data usage and can modify their settings via an “accounts center” on the platforms.
Previously, in January, Meta was fined $160,000 per day for not providing adequate documentation for another investigation. Another daily fine of 4.8 million lira was imposed in March due to a notification message concerning data sharing, with both penalties concluding on May 3. The competition board had also fined Meta 346.72 million lira in 2022 for competition law violations. Meta’s recent penalties reflect ongoing regulatory scrutiny and highlight the importance of compliance with data protection and competition laws in global operations.
