A Spanish court has ordered Facebook owner Meta to pay 479 million euros ($552 million) to Spanish digital media outlets for unfair competition practices and infringing European Union data protection regulation, a ruling the company will appeal.

Madrid's Commercial Court said on Thursday that the compensation, to be paid out to 87 digital press publishers and news agencies, was linked to Meta's use of personal data for behavioural advertising on Facebook and Instagram.

It said the U.S. tech giant had obtained a "significant competitive advantage" in Spain's online advertising market by unlawfully processing user data.

Meta said it disagreed with the ruling and would lodge an appeal.

"This is a baseless claim that lacks any evidence of alleged harm and wilfully ignores how the online advertising industry works," a Meta spokesperson said in a statement sent to Reuters.

"Meta complies with all applicable laws and has provided clear choices, transparent information and given users a range of tools to control their experience on our services," the spokesperson added.

Source : Reuters