Facebook to be investigated over whether it is unfairly using personal data to push dating and shopping tools

Regulators have opened an investigation into Facebook amid concerns it is using its vast troves of personal data to push its own shopping and data tools. The probe by the UK's competition regulator will examine whether it is abusing its dominant position in online advertising. It comes amid growing antitrust concerns about the way many technology companies – not just Facebook but others such as Apple – have been able to use their vast size and hold on the market to unfairly benefit themselves. The Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) will look into how the social network gathers and uses certain data and whether it may provide an unfair advantage over rivals in the online classified ads and online dating space. As well as Facebook's advertising services, Facebook Login, a feature that allows people to sign into other websites and apps, will also form part of the probe.