Italy fines Meta $887M over Android users' data access

Italy has imposed a substantial fine of €805 million ($887 million) on Meta for unlawfully accessing Android users' photos and videos through its Facebook app without proper consent or clear disclosure. The Italian data protection authority found that the feature was activated by default, and Facebook requested extensive gallery access using a single permission for multiple app functions.

Users in Italy, totaling around 20 million, can be impacted by this fine, which is one of the largest ever imposed on a tech company in the country. The feature in question suggested photos and videos from the user's gallery as potential content for posts. The Italian regulator acknowledged the large number of people affected and the ongoing nature of the issue for those who had not updated their app or consented to the system.

In addition, Meta's failure to cooperate with the regulatory investigation was also cited as a reason for the hefty fine. A representative from Meta stated that the company intends to appeal the decision.