European Regulators Investigate Google-Meta Advertising Collaboration

European regulators are seeking additional details from Google regarding a discontinued advertising collaboration with Meta Platforms (NASDAQ:META), the parent company of Instagram.

This partnership aimed to target teenagers aged 13 to 17 on YouTube for promoting Instagram, bypassing Google's regulations on online privacy for minors.

The Financial Times disclosed in August about this covert marketing initiative, which operated in the United States with plans for a global rollout. However, the project has since been terminated, according to the Financial Times.

Despite the partnership being inactive, European Commission officials are examining the collaboration's details and have forwarded their findings to regulatory bodies considering potential actions. This information was reported by the Financial Times, citing knowledgeable sources.

In October, European Commission officials instructed lawyers from Alphabet (NASDAQ:GOOGL), Google's parent company, to collect and review various materials. These included data, presentations, internal discussions, and emails relevant to the advertising campaigns.

Google's policy restricts advertising targeting based on age, gender, or interests for individuals under 18.

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