Meta Platforms (NASDAQ: META) has lost its legal challenge to the European Union’s decision to classify its Messenger service as a gatekeeper under the Digital Markets Act, following a ruling by the EU’s General Court in Luxembourg.
The judgment reinforces regulatory obligations imposed on the messaging platform and marks another setback for Meta in its efforts to contest stricter EU oversight of large technology companies.
The General Court upheld the European Commission’s conclusion that Messenger functions as a key gateway through which businesses can reach consumers across the European Union.
Under the Digital Markets Act, platforms designated as gatekeepers are subject to a range of obligations intended to curb the market power of dominant digital companies and promote competition.
Judges found that the Commission had correctly determined that Messenger independently met the criteria required for gatekeeper designation under the legislation.
According to the ruling, the Commission made no error in concluding that the messaging platform qualifies as an important access point between businesses and users.
The gatekeeper designation means Messenger remains subject to the DMA’s regulatory framework, covering interoperability, data usage, competition practices and user choice.
The legislation forms a central part of the EU’s broader effort to regulate large digital ecosystems and limit practices viewed as anti-competitive, with Meta among several major technology groups required to adapt their products and business practices accordingly.
While Meta was unsuccessful in its challenge regarding Messenger, the company secured a limited victory concerning its Marketplace platform, with the court annulling the Commission’s earlier gatekeeper classification of that service.
Judges concluded that the Commission’s reasoning did not adequately support its determination that Marketplace met the relevant legal requirements for designation under the Digital Markets Act.
Despite the ruling in Meta’s favor on Marketplace, the outcome is expected to have little practical significance for the company’s current regulatory position.
The European Commission removed Marketplace’s gatekeeper designation in 2025 after the platform’s user numbers fell below the thresholds required under the Digital Markets Act, meaning the court’s decision does not alter Marketplace’s existing status.
Meta operates social media, messaging and digital communication services including Facebook, Instagram, WhatsApp and Messenger, and continues to navigate increasing regulatory scrutiny in both the European Union and the United States.
