Spain’s parliament has initiated an inquiry into Meta’s data-handling practices on Android devices to assess whether they align with European security and privacy standards. This Spain Probe Meta Android review is part of broader oversight efforts.
Standard review process
Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez said on Nov. 19 that lawmakers will review recent research suggesting Meta may have used a mechanism that collected certain web-activity information from Android users. The Spain Probe Meta Android inquiry aims to understand how the technology functioned and whether it met the requirements of Spanish and European law.
Sanchez said the country’s legal framework applies to all digital platforms and that the review forms part of routine oversight intended to safeguard user rights. As part of this assessment, the Spain Probe Meta Android effort highlights the government’s growing focus on mobile data practices.
Meta said it will cooperate fully with authorities. “Meta takes privacy very seriously and provides a range of tools to help people control how their data is used. We look forward to engaging constructively with the authorities on this matter,” a company spokesperson said in a text message, confirming the company’s readiness to address the Spain Probe Meta Android process.
Focus on security standards
According to government officials, the inquiry will examine Meta’s practices in the context of key European Union regulations, including the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR), the ePrivacy Directive, the Digital Markets Act (DMA) and the Digital Services Act (DSA). These legal frameworks collectively set consistent expectations for transparency, data handling, and content management across large online platforms, all of which are being scrutinized under the Spain Probe Meta Android review.
Lawmakers plan to invite Meta representatives to appear before a lower house committee. The review will assess whether the company’s processes are consistent with established security and privacy expectations. Authorities have not announced a timeline for the sessions, but they confirmed that the Spain Probe Meta Android inquiry will remain a priority.
The European Commission has been conducting broader technical assessments across major platforms to ensure uniform compliance with digital-market rules. In previous evaluations, the Commission said that researchers should receive adequate access to public data under EU requirements, and that companies must provide clear documentation on how their systems operate. These assessments apply across the industry and are part of ongoing efforts to strengthen security oversight, further tying into the Spain Probe Meta Android evaluation.
Strengthening user protection
Spain’s government said the inquiry will help clarify best practices for user data protection, particularly in areas involving device-level tracking, transparency notifications and user consent. Analysts have noted that these processes are central to maintaining trust in digital services, especially as platforms introduce new tools that interact with mobile operating systems.
The review will focus on how the reported tracking mechanism worked, what categories of data it might have collected and whether users received appropriate information. It will also look at how Meta’s internal procedures align with Europe’s broader security and privacy goals.
Officials emphasized that parliamentary inquiries are a standard mechanism for ensuring that regulatory expectations are met, especially in fast-moving digital environments. They said the process supports both consumer protection and industry stability by clarifying how companies can comply with evolving technical and legal standards.
Next steps
Any further action will depend on the findings of the parliamentary review. Spain has not indicated when the inquiry will conclude.
Meta continues to participate in several regulatory processes across Europe that aim to enhance transparency and ensure secure data practices. The company has said it remains committed to working with authorities to meet all applicable standards.
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