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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’s gallery-suggestion feature accessed Android users’ photos, videos and related data without specific, informed consent. The authority said the feature was enabled by default and ordered Meta to obtain separate consent and change how it operates.
What the reports agree on
- Italy’s data protection authority fined Meta €805 million over Facebook’s access to Android users’ photos or photo galleries. Al Jazeera, BBC World, ABC News, Guardian Tech
- The case involved Facebook’s feature for suggesting photos or videos from users’ phone galleries as ideas for posts. BBC World, ABC News, Guardian Tech
- The regulator said Meta did not clearly explain the gallery access or obtain specific user consent. Al Jazeera, BBC World, CBS News, ABC News and 1 more
- The feature was enabled by default, according to the regulator. Al Jazeera, ABC News, The Hill
- The regulator cited Meta’s lack of cooperation in setting the fine. Al Jazeera, ABC News, Guardian Tech
Where reports differ
- CBS News reported the fine as $880 million, while Al Jazeera, ABC News, The Hill and Guardian Tech gave an approximate dollar amount of $887 million. CBS News
- BBC World said Meta had to turn off the feature by default within 60 days and obtain separate consent; ABC News also reported a 60-day deadline. BBC World
- Guardian Tech reported that Meta said it disagreed with the decision and would appeal. Guardian Tech
Reported by one outlet
- Al Jazeera reported that roughly 20 million Italian Android users could have been affected. Al Jazeera
- 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
- 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
- Guardian Tech Italy fines Meta $887m for accessing Android users’ photos and videos
- 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