Italy's Data Protection Authority has fined Meta Platforms Ireland Ltd. €805 million ($887 million) for accessing the photos, videos, and metadata of about 20 million Italian Android users without explicit consent. The regulator ordered Meta to disable its Facebook gallery suggestion feature by default within 60 days. Meta strongly disagrees with the decision, calling the fine disproportionate, and plans to appeal the penalty.
Details of the fine and regulatory demands
- ▪Italy's Data Protection Authority fined Meta Platforms Ireland Ltd. €805 million ($887 million) on November 14, 2026 for accessing Android users' photographs and videos without explicit consent
- ▪The Italian Data Protection Authority ordered Meta Platforms to keep the photo gallery suggestion feature disabled by default and to obtain separate consent from users within 60 days
- ▪The Italian Data Protection Authority levied the fine against Meta Platforms Ireland Ltd., which serves as the company's primary European subsidiary
How the gallery feature operated
- ▪Meta Platforms stated that users must grant device permissions before the Facebook gallery suggestion feature operates and can modify those permissions anytime in settings
- ▪Meta Platforms accessed photographs, videos, and related metadata stored on smartphones through a Facebook app feature that suggested content from personal galleries for user posting
Financial impact and penalty calculation
- ▪The €805 million fine imposed by Italy's data protection agency represents approximately 0.47% of Meta Platforms' global worldwide revenue
- ▪The Italian Data Protection Authority calculated the €805 million penalty taking into consideration a previous 2019 enforcement action against Meta Platforms
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