Spain has opened a new front in Europe’s widening push to regulate big tech, announcing a government-led investigation into Meta after fresh findings suggested the company tracked Android users through a hidden mechanism.
The move signals a shift in how Spain plans to enforce digital rights, framing the issue as part of a broader effort to strengthen public control over data use in major online platforms.
The announcement came on Wednesday after international research centres shared evidence with Spanish officials, prompting a formal review into whether Facebook and Instagram’s parent company had breached privacy rules.
Officials say the case could shape how Spain responds to future data risks linked to major technology companies.
Hidden tracking concerns
According to the government’s statement, the probe originates from research that uncovered a concealed tool designed to monitor web activity on Android devices.
Authorities say they will scrutinise how this mechanism worked, which services it affected, and whether users were aware that their online movements were being captured.
The investigation will also examine whether the system operated across different versions of Android or if it targeted specific groups of users.
Possible breaches of EU digital rules
Spain believes the findings may point to violations of several European Union regulations covering safety, privacy, competition, and platform responsibilities.
The government highlighted four key frameworks under review: the GDPR, the ePrivacy Directive, the Digital Markets Act, and the Digital Services Act.
Each of these laws governs a different layer of digital activity, and the investigation will assess whether Meta’s tracking practices conflicted with one or more of them.
Authorities noted that the assessment will analyse how data was processed and whether Meta followed EU transparency requirements.
Parliamentary review planned
Alongside the formal inquiry, Spain will also call Meta to appear before a lower house committee.
The goal is to allow lawmakers to question the company directly about the hidden tracking mechanism, its design, and its scope.
Officials confirmed that the committee session will form part of Spain’s wider accountability process as regulators analyse the evidence gathered by international research teams.
Lawmakers are expected to focus on how the tracking method was deployed and whether users were offered any form of consent.
Data rights at the centre
The government framed the investigation as part of a broader defence of digital rights inside Spain.
Officials noted that any platform operating in the country must respect European law regardless of the scale of the company or the sophistication of its systems.
The review will continue as research findings are verified and cross-checked against EU legal standards.
The government did not provide a timeline for completion but indicated that the process would remain transparent and aligned with European enforcement practices as the investigation develops.
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