Meta announced on Wednesday that it is implementing a feature to allow select Facebook users to access eBay listings on its Marketplace platform. This move is seen as an attempt to address allegations of anticompetitive behavior raised by the European Union against Meta last year.
As part of the trial, Facebook users in Germany, France, and the United States will be able to browse eBay listings directly within the Marketplace online classifieds service. However, to complete a transaction, users will be redirected to eBay’s platform.
The trial initiative comes in response to a significant fine imposed by Brussels on Meta amounting to close to 800 million euros ($824 million) for what the EU described as “abusive practices” related to its Marketplace service.
European Union antitrust enforcers accused Meta of illegally shutting out competition by tying Marketplace to its social network and automatically exposing Facebook users to Marketplace whether or not they wanted it. They also accused Meta of gaining an unfair advantage through ad-related data.
“While we disagree with and continue to appeal the European Commission’s decision on Facebook Marketplace, we are working quickly and constructively to build a solution which addresses the points raised,” Meta said in a blog post, adding that its solution could benefit people on both platforms.
The European Commission, the 27-nation bloc’s top antitrust enforcer, said it had “no specific comment,” saying only that Meta must comply with the decision issued in mid-November within 90 days.
Shares of eBay jumped on the news. The company said that starting Wednesday a “select number of eBay listings” in the three countries “will be seamlessly integrated and viewable on Facebook Marketplace.” The listings will be from a “variety of categories,” based on factors including shopping trends and listing quality, it said, without being more specific.
Buyers will complete their transactions following the same process as they would 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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