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Italy orders Meta to pay $887M for not obtaining specific consent over user photos
Italy’s data protection authority has fined Meta Platforms Ireland €805 million, about $887 million, over how Facebook’s Android app accesses users’ photos and videos. It says users were not clearly told that their gallery could be used to suggest posts, and that a broad app permission did not amount to specific consent.
The “Camera roll sharing suggestions” feature uses media from a phone’s photo library to recommend content to post. The authority says the feature should be off by default and users should be told how to disable it; Meta has 60 days to obtain separate, specific consent, including from people who previously granted the general permission. The investigation began in July 2025 after a complaint from the Bolzano Consumer Protection Centre, and Meta reportedly plans to appeal.
In short
- Italy fined Meta €805 million over Facebook photo access.
- The authority says users lacked clear, specific consent.
- Meta has 60 days to change how the feature works.
Steelman: both sides, in good faith
The strongest fair case each way — we don't pick a winner.
The case for
The authority’s case is that access to a personal photo library is sensitive and should require clear, specific agreement for this particular use, rather than being bundled into a broad app permission. Switching the feature off by default and explaining how to disable it could help users make an informed choice and protect their privacy.
The case against
Meta could argue that users who granted photo-library access had a reasonable basis to expect the app to use their media for features that help them share content, and that the suggestions provide a practical benefit. It may also contend that the authority’s interpretation sets an overly restrictive standard for consent or that the penalty and requirement to seek consent again from existing users are disproportionate.
Explained simply
Meta owns Facebook, a social media service where people share posts, photos and videos. Phone apps often ask permission to access a photo library, but that permission can cover different uses, such as uploading a picture or suggesting content to share.
Italy’s data protection authority oversees how organisations handle people’s personal information. Its investigation followed a complaint from the Bolzano Consumer Protection Centre, a consumer advice group in northern Italy. Meta says it plans to appeal the authority’s decision.
The case concerns how clearly people must be told what an app will do with their photos, and whether a broad permission is enough for a particular use. It may affect how Facebook asks users for permission and how data protection rules are applied to similar app features.