Germany seeks to levy 10% tax on online platforms Germany is considering a 10% tax on large online platforms like Alphabet's Google and Meta's Facebook, its new culture minister told magazine Stern, in a move likely to heighten trade tensions with the Trump administration. Business • 29 May 25
Germany seeks to levy 10% tax on online platforms Germany is considering a 10% tax on large online platforms like Alphabet's Google and Meta's Facebook, its new culture minister told magazine Stern, in a move likely to heighten trade tensions with the Trump administration. Business • 29 May 25
Meta to update privacy policy Meta is to update its privacy policy for users in Europe next month and will begin notifying them about the changes via Facebook, Messenger, Threads and Instagram this week. Business • 28 May 25
Meta to update privacy policy Meta is to update its privacy policy for users in Europe next month and will begin notifying them about the changes via Facebook, Messenger, Threads and Instagram this week. Business • 28 May 25
Meta Ireland boss raises concern over advertising changes The Head of Meta Ireland has warned of the risks of curtailing personalised advertising. Business • 14 May 25
Meta Ireland boss raises concern over advertising changes The Head of Meta Ireland has warned of the risks of curtailing personalised advertising. Business • 14 May 25
Meta's strong ad sales dampen tariff-induced fears Meta Platforms has reported a strong advertising performance to beat analysts' revenue estimates for the first quarter and match expectations for the next quarter, assuaging investor concerns over tariff-related economic growth fears. Business • 01 May 25
Meta's strong ad sales dampen tariff-induced fears Meta Platforms has reported a strong advertising performance to beat analysts' revenue estimates for the first quarter and match expectations for the next quarter, assuaging investor concerns over tariff-related economic growth fears. Business • 01 May 25
Facebook parent Meta launches standalone AI assistant app Facebook parent Meta Platforms has launched a separate app for its Meta AI assistant, similar to those offered by Microsoft-backed OpenAI and Alphabet's Google. Business • 29 Apr 25
Facebook parent Meta launches standalone AI assistant app Facebook parent Meta Platforms has launched a separate app for its Meta AI assistant, similar to those offered by Microsoft-backed OpenAI and Alphabet's Google. Business • 29 Apr 25
Meta opens Threads to advertisers globally Meta Platforms has said it is expanding advertising on its social network Threads to all eligible advertisers globally, as it looks to generate new revenue streams amid brand uncertainty over tariffs. Business • 23 Apr 25
Meta opens Threads to advertisers globally Meta Platforms has said it is expanding advertising on its social network Threads to all eligible advertisers globally, as it looks to generate new revenue streams amid brand uncertainty over tariffs. Business • 23 Apr 25
What happens to Apple and Meta after the EU fine? European Union antitrust regulators have today fined Apple 500 million euros and Meta 200 million euros to make the companies comply with the Digital Markets Act, which seeks to allow smaller rivals into markets dominated by the biggest companies. Business • 23 Apr 25
What happens to Apple and Meta after the EU fine? European Union antitrust regulators have today fined Apple 500 million euros and Meta 200 million euros to make the companies comply with the Digital Markets Act, which seeks to allow smaller rivals into markets dominated by the biggest companies. Business • 23 Apr 25
Apple fined €500m and Meta €200m for breaching EU law Apple has been fined €500m and Meta €200m, as EU antitrust regulators handed out the first sanctions under landmark legislation aimed at curbing the power of Big Tech. Business • 23 Apr 25
Apple fined €500m and Meta €200m for breaching EU law Apple has been fined €500m and Meta €200m, as EU antitrust regulators handed out the first sanctions under landmark legislation aimed at curbing the power of Big Tech. Business • 23 Apr 25
Meta to begin training AI models with public content Meta has announced it is to begin training its artificial intelligence models with public content from across its platforms. Business • 15 Apr 25
Meta to begin training AI models with public content Meta has announced it is to begin training its artificial intelligence models with public content from across its platforms. Business • 15 Apr 25
EU court adviser backs WhatsApp against EU watchdog Meta Platforms' WhatsApp has got the backing of an adviser to Europe's top court in its fight against the EU privacy watchdog, which had ordered the Irish data protection authority to increase a fine four years ago for privacy breaches. Business • 27 Mar 25
EU court adviser backs WhatsApp against EU watchdog Meta Platforms' WhatsApp has got the backing of an adviser to Europe's top court in its fight against the EU privacy watchdog, which had ordered the Irish data protection authority to increase a fine four years ago for privacy breaches. Business • 27 Mar 25
Italy hands tax demands to Meta, X and LinkedIn Italy has handed tax demands to Meta, X and LinkedIn in the last formal step in an unprecedented VAT claim against the US tech giants that could have repercussions across the European Union, four sources with direct knowledge of the matter said today. Business • 26 Mar 25
Italy hands tax demands to Meta, X and LinkedIn Italy has handed tax demands to Meta, X and LinkedIn in the last formal step in an unprecedented VAT claim against the US tech giants that could have repercussions across the European Union, four sources with direct knowledge of the matter said today. Business • 26 Mar 25
14 jobs at risk at Meta data centre in Co Meath Facebook parent company Meta is planning what it described as a 'small number' of redundancies at its data centre in Clonee, Co Meath. Business • 20 Mar 25
14 jobs at risk at Meta data centre in Co Meath Facebook parent company Meta is planning what it described as a 'small number' of redundancies at its data centre in Clonee, Co Meath. Business • 20 Mar 25
Data watchdog to keep Meta AI features under review Meta has announced the European roll out of artificial intelligence (AI) features on Facebook, Instagram, WhatsApp and Messenger. Ireland • 20 Mar 25
Data watchdog to keep Meta AI features under review Meta has announced the European roll out of artificial intelligence (AI) features on Facebook, Instagram, WhatsApp and Messenger. Ireland • 20 Mar 25
Meta planning to cut 5% of global staff Meta, the parent company of Facebook, Instagram and WhatsApp is planning to cut about 5% of its 'lowest performing' staff globally, according to an internal memo sent to staff. Business • 15 Jan 25
Meta planning to cut 5% of global staff Meta, the parent company of Facebook, Instagram and WhatsApp is planning to cut about 5% of its 'lowest performing' staff globally, according to an internal memo sent to staff. Business • 15 Jan 25
EU reassesses tech probes into Apple, Google, Meta - FT The European Commission is re-evaluating its probes into tech giants including Apple, Meta and Alphabet's Google, the Financial Times reports today. Business • 14 Jan 25
EU reassesses tech probes into Apple, Google, Meta - FT The European Commission is re-evaluating its probes into tech giants including Apple, Meta and Alphabet's Google, the Financial Times reports today. Business • 14 Jan 25
Meta and Amazon scale back diversity programmes Facebook owner Meta Platforms and Amazon.com are winding down diversity programmes ahead of Republican Donald Trump's return to the US presidency as conservative opposition to such initiatives grows louder. Business • 13 Jan 25
Meta and Amazon scale back diversity programmes Facebook owner Meta Platforms and Amazon.com are winding down diversity programmes ahead of Republican Donald Trump's return to the US presidency as conservative opposition to such initiatives grows louder. Business • 13 Jan 25
EU 'absolutely' rejects Meta CEO's censorship claim The European Union has rejected a claim by the head of Meta that the bloc is engaged in "censorship" because of its technology regulations. technology • 09 Jan 25
EU 'absolutely' rejects Meta CEO's censorship claim The European Union has rejected a claim by the head of Meta that the bloc is engaged in "censorship" because of its technology regulations. technology • 09 Jan 25
Meta shelves fact-checking programme in US Meta is ending its fact-checking programme in the US and replacing it with a "Community Notes" system similar to that on Elon Musk-owned X, the Facebook parent said today. Business • 08 Jan 25
Meta shelves fact-checking programme in US Meta is ending its fact-checking programme in the US and replacing it with a "Community Notes" system similar to that on Elon Musk-owned X, the Facebook parent said today. Business • 08 Jan 25
Meta elects UFC CEO Dana White, two others to board Meta Platforms has elected three new directors to its board, including Dana White, CEO of Ultimate Fighting Championship and close friend of president-elect Donald Trump. Business • 07 Jan 25
Meta elects UFC CEO Dana White, two others to board Meta Platforms has elected three new directors to its board, including Dana White, CEO of Ultimate Fighting Championship and close friend of president-elect Donald Trump. Business • 07 Jan 25
Irish Data Protection Commission fines Meta €251m The Irish Data Protection Commission has fined Facebook owner Meta €251m following a personal data breach that impacted around 29 million Facebook accounts globally, of which approximately three million were based in Europe. Business • 17 Dec 24
Irish Data Protection Commission fines Meta €251m The Irish Data Protection Commission has fined Facebook owner Meta €251m following a personal data breach that impacted around 29 million Facebook accounts globally, of which approximately three million were based in Europe. Business • 17 Dec 24
Australia announces new plans for big tech firms Australia's government said today it planned new rules that would charge big tech firms millions of dollars if they did not pay Australian media companies for news hosted on their platforms. Business • 12 Dec 24
Australia announces new plans for big tech firms Australia's government said today it planned new rules that would charge big tech firms millions of dollars if they did not pay Australian media companies for news hosted on their platforms. Business • 12 Dec 24
Revenues up 20% at Irish arm of Facebook owner to €69.7bn Revenues at the Dublin-based international headquarters for the operator of Facebook and Instagram last year surged by 20% or €11.69 billion to €69.75 billion in a record performance for the business. Business • 26 Nov 24
Revenues up 20% at Irish arm of Facebook owner to €69.7bn Revenues at the Dublin-based international headquarters for the operator of Facebook and Instagram last year surged by 20% or €11.69 billion to €69.75 billion in a record performance for the business. Business • 26 Nov 24
Meta calls for new EU-wide regulation on age verification Meta, the parent company of Facebook, Instagram and WhatsApp, has called for new EU regulations to harmonise rules for age verification on platforms. Business • 26 Nov 24
Meta calls for new EU-wide regulation on age verification Meta, the parent company of Facebook, Instagram and WhatsApp, has called for new EU regulations to harmonise rules for age verification on platforms. Business • 26 Nov 24
Meta to face US antitrust trial over acquisitions Facebook owner Meta Platforms must face trial in a US Federal Trade Commission lawsuit seeking its break-up over claims that it bought Instagram and WhatsApp to crush emerging competition in social media, a judge in Washington ruled today. Business • 13 Nov 24
Meta to face US antitrust trial over acquisitions Facebook owner Meta Platforms must face trial in a US Federal Trade Commission lawsuit seeking its break-up over claims that it bought Instagram and WhatsApp to crush emerging competition in social media, a judge in Washington ruled today. Business • 13 Nov 24
'Unskippable' ads to feature on Facebook and Instagram Some ads on Facebook and Instagram will be "unskippable for a few seconds" under new changes announced today by the platforms' parent company Meta. Ireland • 12 Nov 24
'Unskippable' ads to feature on Facebook and Instagram Some ads on Facebook and Instagram will be "unskippable for a few seconds" under new changes announced today by the platforms' parent company Meta. Ireland • 12 Nov 24
