Meta argued that Facebook does not provide a mechanism for selling and buying, nor does it charge users any commission because it is not an e-commerce platform. | Photo credit: Reuters
Meta on Wednesday (March 18, 2026) challenged in the Delhi High Court the Central Consumer Protection Authority’s order imposing a fine of ₹10 crore on it for allegedly illegally selling and listing walkie-talkies on Facebook Marketplace.
Meta’s counsel said that unlike Amazon and Flipkart, Facebook was not an e-marketplace but only a “bulletin board” and therefore the Central Consumer Protection Authority (CCPA) had no jurisdiction over it.
The court sent Meta’s motion for hearing on March 25 and asked him to explain how the order can be called “without jurisdiction.” She also asked the Met why the National Consumer Disputes Redressal Commission could not look into the issue.
Senior advocate Mukul Rohatgi, appearing for Meta, argued that Facebook neither provides a mechanism for selling and buying nor charges any commission from users as it is not an e-commerce platform.
“This is a message board for Facebook users only. We are not a business. No commercial sales are allowed. No consideration is charged. We do not charge anyone,” the senior lawyer said.
In its order adopted on January 1, 2026, the CCPA ruled that Meta violated the Consumer Protection Act and its rules and the Information Technology Rules (Guidelines for Intermediaries and the Digital Media Code of Ethics) by allegedly allowing radio listings on Facebook Marketplace without mandatory disclosure.
However, Meta argued that the CCPA exceeded its jurisdiction by acting on the “untenable” assumption that Facebook Marketplace is subject to and governed by the legal framework for e-commerce.
In its January 1 order, the CCPA also ordered Meta to ensure that no radios or any other product requiring legal approval/certification is listed, hosted, advertised or sold on its platform without full compliance with applicable laws and mandatory disclosures.
Meta has also requested that it regularly conduct self-audits to check for fraudulent records and publish a certificate of such self-audits on its website in the public and consumer interest.
Published – 18 March 2026 20:12 IST
