WASHINGTON WASHINGTON: Meta said Wednesday it will allow some Facebook users to view eBay listings on its Marketplace service, as it tries a possible way to resolve anti-competitive behavior charges leveled by the European Union last year. The social media company said it is launching a test whereby Facebook users in Germany, France and the US will be able to browse eBay listings directly on its Marketplace online classifieds service, but complete transactions on eBay.
Meta is conducting the test after Brussels fined the company nearly 800 million euros ($824 million) in November for “abusive conduct” linked to the marketplace. EU antitrust enforcers have banned Meta from linking the marketplace to its social network. Accused of illegally stifling competition and automatically exposing Facebook users to the marketplace, whether they wanted to or not. They also accused Meta of gaining unfair advantage through advertising-related data.
“While we disagree with and continue to appeal the European Commission's decision on Facebook Marketplace, we are working quickly and creatively to create a solution that addresses the issues raised,” Meta said in a blog post. Its solution could benefit people on both platforms, he said. The European Commission, the 27-nation bloc's top antitrust enforcer, said it had “no specific comment,” saying only that Meta should receive 90 within days The decision issued in mid-November must be complied with.
eBay shares jumped on this news. Starting Wednesday, “select eBay listings” in the three countries will be “seamlessly integrated and viewable on Facebook Marketplace,” the company said. The listings will be from “a variety of categories”, based on factors including shopping trends and the quality of the listings, without getting too specific. Buyers will have to complete their transactions following the same process as they do when buying directly through the eBay website and will be covered by the platform's money-back guarantee and other protections, it said.
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