Overview:
Italy's data protection authority sanctioned Meta Platforms on Saturday for accessing images, videos and associated data from Android device users without explicit consent or adequate notification. The fine represents one of the largest regulatory penalties against the technology company in Europe. Meta has 60 days to disable the feature automatically and obtain separate user authorization going forward.
Details:
The Italian data protection agency determined that Meta, through its Facebook application on Android devices, accessed personal photo galleries and video libraries of Italian users to power a content suggestion feature. The feature proposed content from users' own media that they could then share. Meta stated it "strongly disagrees" with the authority's factual assessment and legal interpretation, calling the fine disproportionate, and indicated it intends to appeal.
The investigation began in 2025 but did not examine Meta's use of the accessed materials beyond the initial unauthorized collection. The regulator's order requires Meta to deactivate the automatic feature within two months and establish a mechanism for requesting explicit user consent specifically for this use case.
Outlook:
The penalty adds to mounting regulatory costs for Meta across Europe, where data protection enforcement has intensified. Investors are tracking whether other European regulators will initiate similar investigations into Meta's data handling practices on mobile platforms.