€887 million fine: Italy penalizes Meta over Android users’ photo data access

Italian regulator’s decision

Italian regulators said Meta accessed Android users’ photos without obtaining their specific consent. They set the fine at €805m (£670; $887m) and gave the company 60 days to change how the feature works.

Meta must disable the feature by default and ask users for consent separately, the regulator said. Facebook had sought access to photo galleries through one authorisation covering the app.

Notice did not explain suggestions

The regulator said an earlier notice did not make clear that gallery access would let Facebook generate suggestions based on users’ photos. That gap was central to its decision.

Meta described the feature as a straightforward way to help people post photos and videos on Facebook. The company said users must give permission on their device before it works and can alter that permission through their settings at any time.

Separate US ruling

A US judge in New Mexico ordered Meta to pay $25bn (£18.6bn) after finding that the company had spent years lying to the public about its handling of Facebook user data. The report gives no further details about the US ruling or how it relates to Italy’s decision.