Italy fines Meta €805m over user photo access
Italian data protection authority fines Meta €805m for unauthorized access to 20m users' photos
Italy's data protection authority imposed a hefty fine of €805 million on Meta, the parent company of Facebook, on Saturday, for allowing its Android app to access the photos and videos of approximately 20 million Italian users without their explicit consent, Qatar's state news agency QNA reported.
The authority found that the feature, available since 2023, enabled the app to access users' photo galleries and associated data without adequately informing them or obtaining valid consent.
Meta has been ordered to obtain explicit consent from users within 60 days and to disable the feature by default, even for those who had previously granted it general access to their photos.
Background
Meta, formerly named Facebook, has faced scrutiny over its handling of user data in recent years.
The company has been fined and criticized by regulators globally for its data protection practices.
The Italian data protection authority's decision highlights the growing concern over tech companies' access to user data and the need for explicit consent.
This fine is one of several penalties imposed on Meta in Europe, where data protection regulations are strict.
Data Protection Regulations
The European Union's General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) requires companies to obtain explicit consent from users before accessing their personal data.
The regulation has led to increased scrutiny of tech companies' data protection practices and has resulted in significant fines for non-compliance.