What the CMA is investigating
The Competition and Markets Authority has opened a formal investigation into Meta over suspected breaches of UK competition law, the regulator confirmed on 30 October 2026. The probe falls under Chapter II of the Competition Act 1998, which prohibits companies from abusing a dominant market position.
At issue are the commercial terms Meta imposes on businesses that use its platforms and services to reach customers. The CMA says it is concerned that requiring firms to accept these terms could amount to unfair trading conditions being forced on companies that depend on Meta to reach audiences.
Three entities are named as under investigation: Meta Platforms, Inc., Facebook UK Limited and Facebook Ireland Limited. The CMA notes the inquiry may extend to other entities within Meta’s corporate group, including relevant UK subsidiaries.
Who is affected and what happens next
The CMA’s investigation will test two questions: first, whether Meta holds a dominant position in one or more relevant markets in the UK, and second, if so, whether its existing or revised commercial terms amount to an abuse of that position.
For UK businesses that rely on Meta’s advertising and platform tools to reach customers, this means scrutiny of the terms they are required to sign up to, and whether those terms disadvantage them unfairly given Meta’s market position. No specific sectors or terms are detailed in the case documents published so far.
The regulator stresses that no assumption should be made at this stage that the law has been broken. The CMA will now gather evidence from Meta and from affected third parties.
Timetable and possible outcomes
According to the published case timetable, the period from October 2026 to January 2027 will involve rapid initial information gathering and engagement with Meta and third parties. The CMA describes these dates as indicative and says they may change.
Three outcomes are possible once the initial phase concludes. The CMA could close the case if it decides not to proceed. Alternatively, if it provisionally concludes that competition law has been infringed, it may issue a statement of objections, setting out its concerns and giving Meta and other parties an opportunity to respond before any final decision is made.
Meta has not issued a public response within the case documents reviewed. The CMA’s press office can be contacted for media enquiries, and the case team, led by Project Director Tamara Todorovic, is inviting anyone with information relevant to the investigation to come forward.
What to watch next
The next milestone is the end of the initial evidence-gathering phase, pencilled in for January 2027, after which the CMA will decide whether to escalate the case with a statement of objections or close the investigation. UK businesses that use Meta’s platforms, from small advertisers to larger firms dependent on Facebook and Instagram for reach, will be watching for any signal about what commercial terms the regulator considers problematic, and whether Meta amends its terms in response.