DUBLIN, Ireland: The High Court has granted permission to Facebook operator Meta to challenge a possible penalty of up to 430 million euros that the tech giant could face from a single complaint relating to personal data processing.

Meta also argued that the relevant State watchdog, the Data Protection Commission (DPC), exceeded its powers by expanding its investigation to include all Facebook users.

Justice Mary Rose Gearty granted the 'ex parte' application by Meta Platforms Ireland Ltd - where only one side is represented - to their counsel Declan McGrath SC. She put a stay on any fine the DPC may levy until next year, when the case is presented in court.

Meta Platforms Ireland Ltd took the action against the DPC, and this week was granted leave to seek judicial review against the watchdog's draft decision, which proposed a fine of between 360 million euros and 430 million euros.

The court heard a complaint was made in July 2018 by a Facebook user regarding access to personal data held by Meta in a digital warehouse termed a 'Hive'.

The complainant said that he had requested access to the personal data stored by Meta through his Facebook account and was, in response, furnished with online "tools" to assist in downloading his information. He claimed, however, that some personal data remained unsent, which he should have access to.

Meta Ireland, situated at Merrion Road, Dublin 4, sought to quash the 'preliminary draft decision' of the DPC, dated October 10.

It sought a declaration from the court that the data watchdog acted beyond its powers by expanding the scope of its inquiry beyond the individual's complaint into a more exhaustive, 'own-volition' inquiry by the commission.

In its submissions, Meta claimed that the DPC took the view that the complainant's request had a "general application", in that similar considerations regarding data "could" arise for many other Facebook users.

Meta submitted that the DPC communicated to the company that the complainant was requesting the data to have a complete understanding of it, and providing raw data would be required to enable him to be aware of the context in which it was being processed.

Meta further said that the DPC notified that the complainant outlined "raw data stored exclusively in 'Hive' was necessary for him to be able to ascertain whether several websites he had used, including websites selling medical products, had shared his browsing history."

"The DPC considers that these users were not able, in a similar manner to the complainant, to exercise their [GDPR] rights, or exercise control over their personal data," Meta said.

Justice Gearty granted Meta's application for judicial review and imposed a stay on the DPC-indicated findings, pending the outcome of the case. The judge then adjourned the proceedings until January 2026.