Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg is pressing U.S. trade officials and the Trump administration to oppose a pending European Union antitrust decision that could significantly impact the company’s ad-based revenue model. The ruling under the EU’s Digital Markets Act may require Meta to offer Facebook and Instagram without personalized ads, potentially undermining a core aspect of Meta’s global business.
Sources familiar with the matter say Meta has been urging U.S. officials to treat the EU’s move as discriminatory and harmful to American economic interests. The company argues that the ruling unfairly targets successful U.S. tech firms while giving a pass to Chinese and European competitors. Meta contends that such regulatory actions place American innovation at a disadvantage in the global marketplace.
The anticipated decision stems from earlier charges that Meta violated European rules by forcing users to choose between paying for ad-free access or consenting to targeted advertising. Although Meta rolled out a “less personalized ads” option last year, EU officials appear unconvinced and are expected to demand further concessions, such as making non-targeted ad experiences more accessible or eliminating targeted ads by default.
Meta views these measures as a threat to its business model, particularly in Europe, which accounts for roughly 25% of its global revenue. Zuckerberg has expressed growing frustration with European regulators, describing their approach as hostile to U.S. tech success. He is now seeking support from the Trump administration to push back on what he characterizes as economically damaging overreach.
The European Commission maintains that its laws are enforced equally across all companies, regardless of origin. The Digital Markets Act, which targets dominant digital platforms, aims to increase competition and provide more choices for consumers, particularly from smaller firms.
Zuckerberg’s request places the Biden-appointed trade officials and Trump administration in a key position to determine how aggressively the U.S. defends its digital exports amid rising regulatory pressure from overseas.
