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Italy fined Meta €805 million over Facebook’s use of Android users’ gallery photos and videos.
Italy’s data protection authority said Facebook’s gallery-suggestion feature accessed photos and videos without specific consent or clear information about how they would be used. The authority said the feature was enabled by default and ordered Meta to change its settings and consent process.
What the reports agree on
- Italy’s data protection authority fined Meta €805 million. Al Jazeera, BBC World, ABC News
- The case concerned Facebook’s use of photos and videos from Android users’ galleries. Al Jazeera, BBC World, CBS News, ABC News and 1 more
- The regulator said users had not given specific consent or had not received clear information about the gallery access. Al Jazeera, BBC World, CBS News, ABC News
- The feature was enabled by default, according to the regulator or investigators. Al Jazeera, ABC News, The Hill
- The case could affect about 20 million users in Italy. 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 puts the fine at $880 million, while Al Jazeera, ABC News and The Hill report about $887 million. CBS News
- BBC World says Meta must turn off the feature by default within 60 days and obtain separate consent; Al Jazeera says the regulator ordered Meta to clarify its notice and turn off the default setting. BBC World
Reported by one outlet
- Al Jazeera reported that the proceedings did not address whether users’ content was used to train artificial intelligence. Al Jazeera
- ABC News reported that Meta Platforms Ireland Limited challenged Italy’s jurisdiction. ABC News
- BBC World reported that Meta also owns Instagram and WhatsApp. BBC World
- CBS News reported that the fine ranks among the largest penalties an Italian authority has imposed on a technology company. CBS News
The original reports
- The Hill Italy fines Meta $887M for accessing users’ photos without specific consent
- ABC News Meta fined $887M in Italy over Android gallery photos, videos on Facebook
- CBS News Italy fines Meta $880 million over accessing users' photos
- BBC World Italy fines Meta €805m over accessing users' photos
- Al Jazeera Italy fines Meta $880m over photo privacy