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Italy fined Meta €805 million over Facebook’s access to Android users’ photo galleries.
Italy’s data protection authority said Facebook accessed photos, videos and related data through an Android feature without specific consent or clear information. It ordered Meta to disable the feature by default and obtain separate consent; Meta may appeal.
What the reports agree on
- The fine was €805 million, reported as about $887 million. Al Jazeera, BBC World, ABC News
- The case involved a Facebook feature that accessed or used Android users’ gallery photos and videos to suggest content. Al Jazeera, BBC World, CBS News, ABC News
- The regulator said users had not given specific consent or were not clearly informed about the gallery access. Al Jazeera, BBC World, CBS News, ABC News
- The regulator said the feature was enabled by default and ordered Meta to turn it off by default. Al Jazeera, BBC World, ABC News
- About 20 million people in Italy could have been affected. Al Jazeera, BBC World
- The regulator cited Meta’s lack of cooperation in setting the fine. Al Jazeera, BBC World, ABC News
Where reports differ
- CBS News reported the fine as $880 million, while Al Jazeera and ABC News reported about $887 million. CBS News
Reported by one outlet
- Al Jazeera reported that the proceedings did not address whether users’ content was used to train artificial intelligence. Al Jazeera
- BBC World reported that Meta owns Instagram and WhatsApp. BBC World
- CBS News reported that the fine ranked among the largest penalties an Italian authority had imposed on a technology company. CBS News
- ABC News reported that Meta Platforms Ireland Limited challenged Italy’s jurisdiction. ABC News