Italy Fines Meta Over User Photos Access

Meta user photos have triggered a massive regulatory penalty as Italian authorities hit the social media giant with an €805m fine for accessing Android accounts without specific consent. Italy’s Data Protection Authority stated that the company failed to properly inform about 20 million smartphone users that it had access to their personal images and videos via a specific feature on the Facebook app.

The Android Gallery Feature Dispute

The penalty stems from a function that suggests photos and videos from a phone gallery as ideas for posts. According to the Italian regulator, Facebook requested access to photo galleries through a single app-wide authorization. However, a preceding notice failed to make clear that this would also allow the platform to generate suggestions based on stored media.

The regulator noted that it factored in the high number of people affected. Officials stated the practice remains ongoing for individuals who have not updated the app and for those who already granted system consent.

How Meta user photos Affects You

Smartphone users face direct implications regarding how their private device galleries are scanned and utilized by major applications. The authority gave the company 60 days to disable the feature by default and seek user consent separately. This directive aims to give individuals clearer control over their personal files rather than relying on broad, app-wide permissions.

• Fine amount: €805m imposed by Italian regulators
• Affected individuals: 20 million smartphone users
• Compliance timeline: 60 days given to disable feature by default

What Happens Next

The company must comply with the 60-day deadline to alter its app settings and secure explicit permissions from users. The penalty ranks among the largest ever imposed by an Italian authority on a technology firm. Last month, the company also faced a $25bn penalty from a US judge in New Mexico after the court found it had spent years misleading the public regarding how it handled user data.

Why it matters

The penalty highlights increasing regulatory scrutiny over how major technology firms handle private smartphone data and secure user consent. With millions of accounts impacted by hidden gallery access features, the ruling forces tech platforms to adopt transparent notification methods and default settings that protect individual privacy.

Read More: Meta $25bn Penalty Ordered in New Mexico Case