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Dutch court upholds ruling forcing Meta to offer chronological feeds

Published by Global Banking & Finance Review

Posted on March 10, 2026

2 min read

· Last updated: April 1, 2026

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Dutch court upholds ruling forcing Meta to offer chronological feeds
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AMSTERDAM, March 10 (Reuters) - A Dutch appeals court on Tuesday upheld an October ruling requiring Meta Platforms to let Facebook and Instagram users in the Netherlands view posts chronologically,

Dutch Court Orders Meta to Provide Chronological Feeds for Dutch Users

Meta Faces Legal Challenge Over Algorithmic Feeds in the Netherlands

Dutch Appeals Court Upholds Ruling

AMSTERDAM, March 10 (Reuters) - A Dutch appeals court on Tuesday upheld an October ruling requiring Meta Platforms to let Facebook and Instagram users in the Netherlands view posts chronologically, rather than via profiling-based feeds.

Arguments from Digital Rights Group

Bits of Freedom's Concerns

Digital rights group Bits of Freedom, which brought the case, had argued in the run-up to a national election that public debate is harmed when users can't be sure which posts they are seeing and why.

Legal Basis: European Union's Digital Services Act

The lower court had found that elements of the design of both platforms were not in line with the European Union's Digital Services Act.

Meta's Response to the Ruling

Compliance and Future Legal Action

Meta, which complied with the court's preliminary ruling, said it would now challenge it in "full scale" proceedings. We "are confident in our compliance with the DSA," a spokesperson said.

Reactions and Broader Implications

Bits of Freedom's Hopes for Europe

Statement from Evelyn Austin

Bits of Freedom welcomed the decision. General Director Evelyn Austin said although the ruling only applies to Dutch users, she hoped it would eventually apply throughout Europe. "We will keep pushing for that," she said.

(Reporting by Toby SterlingEditing by Bernadette Baum)

Key Takeaways

  • The Amsterdam Court of Appeals confirmed that Meta must allow Dutch users to choose and retain a chronological feed on Facebook and Instagram, marking a significant enforcement of Articles 25 and 38 of the EU’s Digital Services Act (loc.gov).
  • Meta had previously been given until December 31, 2025, to implement changes or face fines up to €5 million, and ultimately dropped much of its appeal in January 2026 after making adjustments for Dutch users (nltimes.nl).
  • Digital rights group Bits of Freedom, which initiated the case, argues that algorithm‑driven feeds undermine public debate and user autonomy, especially ahead of elections, and hopes the ruling will set a precedent across Europe (dutchnews.nl).

References

Frequently Asked Questions

What did the Dutch court rule regarding Meta Platforms?
The court upheld a ruling requiring Meta to provide Facebook and Instagram users in the Netherlands with the option to view posts in chronological order.
Why was the case brought against Meta in the Netherlands?
Digital rights group Bits of Freedom argued that profiling-based feeds harm public debate, especially during elections, as users cannot be sure what posts they see or why.
How does the Dutch ruling relate to the EU's Digital Services Act?
The court found Meta's design was not in line with the Digital Services Act, which aims to regulate digital platforms across the EU.
Is Meta complying with the court’s ruling?
Meta complied with the preliminary ruling but plans to challenge it further in full-scale proceedings.
Will this ruling impact Meta users outside the Netherlands?
Currently, the ruling applies only to Dutch users, but Bits of Freedom hopes it will eventually extend throughout Europe.

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