Meta’s Use of Consumer Data Not an Antitrust Problem, Judge Says

Meta Platforms Inc.'s extraction of data from users of its social media products isn’t a problem that can be addressed with antitrust laws, a San Francisco federal judge said at a Thursday hearing.

“I don’t see an antitrust injury in this case,” said Judge James Donato. “There could be some kind of claim about extraction of data, but I don’t see it as an antitrust claim.”

Meta is facing a sweeping proposed antitrust class action from social media users and digital advertisers who allege the company built its social media empire by promising users that it respected user privacy ...