Italy's data protection authority has fined Meta €805 million ($887 million) for accessing users' photos and videos without proper consent through its Facebook app on Android devices. The fine is significant, affecting approximately 20 million users, and is among the largest penalties imposed on a tech company in Italy.
Meta plans to appeal the decision, arguing that the fine is disproportionate. The regulator's ruling requires Meta to obtain explicit consent for accessing users' photo galleries and to clearly inform users about the feature's purpose and how to disable it.
Watch for Meta's appeal process and its potential impact on user privacy practices in Italy. The ruling could set a precedent for stricter consent requirements across Europe, influencing how tech companies handle user data and privacy moving forward.