Australian Competition and Consumer Commission v Meta Platforms Inc [2023] FCA 842

Federal Court of Australia

Australian Competition and Consumer Commission v Meta Platforms Inc [2023] FCA 842 File number(s): NSD 1339 of 2020

Judgment of: ABRAHAM J

Date of judgment: 26 July 2023

Catchwords: CONSUMER LAW – civil contraventions of Australian Consumer Law ss 18 and 33 – conduct likely to mislead or deceive or liable to mislead the public – where conduct serious – where parties agree on proposed declarations and pecuniary penalty – whether appropriate for Court to make declarations of contraventions and to impose civil penalties sought. HELD – Court satisfied that declarations and pecuniary penalty sought appropriate having regard to all relevant matters.

Legislation: Competition and Consumer Act 2010 (Cth) s 155, Sch 2 ss 18, 33, 224 Federal Court of Australia Act 1976 (Cth) ss 21, 43

Cases cited: Australian Building and Construction Commissioner v Construction, Forestry, Mining and Energy Union [2018] HCA 3; (2018) 262 CLR 157 Australian Building and Construction Commissioner v Pattinson [2022] HCA 13; (2022) 399 ALR 599 Australian Competition and Consumer Commission v Australian Safeway Stores Pty Ltd [1997] FCA 450; (1997) 145 ALR 36 Australian Competition and Consumer Commission v Birubi Art Pty Ltd (in liq) [2019] FCA 996; (2019) 374 ALR 776 Australian Competition Consumer Competition v GlaxoSmithKline Consumer Healthcare Australia Pty Ltd (No 2) [2020] FCA 724 Australian Competition and Consumer Commission v Google LLC (No 4) [2022] FCA 942 Australian Competition and Consumer Commission v Hillside (Australia New Media) Pty Ltd (t/as Bet365) (No 2) [2016] FCA 698 Australian Competition and Consumer Commission v MSY Technology Pty Ltd [2012] FCAFC 56; (2012) 201 FCR 378 Australian Competition and Consumer Commission v Oakmoore Pty Ltd (No 2) [2018] FCA 1170 Australian Competition and Consumer Commission v Reckitt Benckiser (Australia) Pty Ltd [2016] FCAFC 181; (2016) 340 ALR 25 Australian Competition and Consumer Commission v TPG Internet Pty Ltd [2013] HCA 54; (2013) 250 CLR 640 Australian Competition and Consumer Commission v Uber B.V. [2022] FCA 1466 Australian Competition and Consumer Commission v Yazaki Corporation [2018] FCAFC 73; (2018) 262 FCR 243 Australian Securities and Investments Commission v Insurance Australia Limited, in the matter of Insurance Australia Limited [2023] FCA 724 Australian Securities and Investments Commission v La Trobe Financial Asset Management Ltd [2021] FCA 1417; (2021) 158 ACSR 363 Australian Securities and Investments Commission v MLC Nominees [2020] FCA 1306; (2020) 147 ACSR 266 Australian Securities and Investments Commission v Monarch FX Group Pty Ltd, in the matter of Monarch FX Group Pty Ltd [2014] FCA 1387; (2014) 103 ACSR 453 Australian Securities and Investments Commission v Stone Assets Management Pty Ltd [2012] FCA 630; (2012) 205 FCR 120 ASIC v Pegasus Leveraged Options Group Pty Ltd [2002] NSWSC 310; (2002) 41 ACSR 561 Butcher v Lachlan Elder Realty Pty Limited [2004] HCA 60; (2004) 218 CLR 592 Commonwealth v Director, Fair Work Building Industry Inspectorate [2015] HCA 46; (2015) 258 CLR 482 Construction, Forestry, Mining and Energy Union v Cahill [2010] FCAFC 39; (2010) 269 ALR 1 Forster v Jododex Australia Pty Ltd [1972] HCA 61; (1972) 127 CLR 421 Markarian v The Queen [2005] HCA 25; (2005) 228 CLR 357 Mill v The Queen [1988] HCA 70; (1988) 166 CLR 59 Minister for Industry, Tourism and Resources v Mobil Oil Australia Pty Ltd [2004] FCAFC 72; (2004) ATPR 41-993 NW Frozen Foods Pty Ltd v Australian Competition Commission [1996] FCA 1134; (1996) 71 FCR 285 Seven Network Ltd v News Ltd [2009] FCAFC 166; (2009) 182 FCR 160 Singtel Optus Pty Ltd v Australian Competition and Consumer Commission [2012] FCAFC 20; (2012) 287 ALR 249 Volkswagen Aktiengesellschaft v Australian Competition and Consumer Commission [2021] FCAFC 49; (2021) 284 FCR 24