EU to Charge Meta Over ‘Pay or Consent’

The Financial Times claimed on Monday that the EU will punish Facebook parent Meta for violating its landmark digital market acts, citing sources

In a move that could have significant implications for the tech industry, EU regulators are set to release preliminary findings expressing concerns over Meta’s data collection practices in Europe this week.

The social media giant introduced a “pay or consent” model for its Facebook and Instagram platforms in Europe last November, allowing users to opt out of targeted ads by paying a fee or consent to data tracking for free.

However, regulators argue that this approach presents a false choice, as the financial barrier forces users to consent to data tracking for advertising purposes.

This decision comes on the heels of a similar ruling against Apple, which was found to violate the EU’s Digital Markets Act (DMA) and may face a substantial fine.

The EU’s crackdown on Big Tech corporations aims to promote a level playing field for smaller competitors and ensure compliance with data privacy regulations.

With potential fines of up to 10% of a company’s global annual turnover, Meta and other tech giants are under increasing pressure to prioritize user data protection.