Meta, Facebook’s mother company, has been fined 805m euros by Italian authorities for protecting personal data, having accessed photos and videos of users without receiving their clear consent.
According to Italian authority, through a Facebook app on Android devices, the company has had access to photos, videos and other users’ data in Italy, without properly informing them of and without obtaining special authorization for the action.
The issue relates to a Facebook function presented in 2023 that suggests users with photos and videos from the telephone gallery to use as the idea for postings. The problem, according to authorities, is that the app required a general authorisation for access to the gallery, without making it clear to the user that it was also allowing the use of photographs for the function.
The Italian authority has demanded that Meta change the way to obtain permission, urging users a special consent to access the photo gallery. The company must also clearly explain what this data is used for and how the function can be deactivated.
According to authorities, some 20 million Android users in Italy have been affected by the issue. The decision on the fine has also taken into account the fact that the violation has continued for a long period, as well as the lack of Meta’s co-operation during the investigation.
On the other hand, Meta has rejected the verdict and has indicated he will appeal the fine. A company representative deemed it excessive and said the company disagrees with the authorities’ assessment.
This is one of the greatest fines ever imposed by an Italian authority towards a technology company. The decision comes at a time when Meta is facing other legal problems regarding the way he uses personal citizen data.
At the end of October, authorities in the American state of New Mexico ordered the company to pay $25 billion, since it is suspected that for more than a decade, it had misinterpreted residents for their use of data.
Meanwhile, the fine imposed in Italy represents about 0.4% of Meta’s annual lap. The company reported in 2025 a $201 billion income and net profit of $60.5 billion.
Source Layer: Insander
