Italy slaps Meta with €805mn fine over access to Android photos

Italy's data protection agency has imposed a significant fine of €805 million ($887.3 million) on Meta for violating the privacy of Italian users. The regulator claims Meta accessed photos and videos from Android phone users through the Facebook app, using a feature that suggests photos from personal galleries for posting on the social media platform.

This move was deemed unauthorized as it occurred without obtaining specific consent or informing users adequately. The fine, amounting to 0.4% of Meta's annual turnover, is the largest ever imposed by Italian regulators on a major tech company. Meta has been given 60 days to disable the camera roll suggestions feature and to seek individual permissions from Facebook users for this function.

The investigation, initiated in July 2025, highlights the wide impact of the privacy infringement, which continues for those who have not updated the app or have given consent to the system. Italian regulators have pointed out Meta's lack of cooperation during the investigation, and while the company has yet to comment on the fine, it may appeal the decision.

Despite previously denying the use of the camera roll for AI model training, Meta's European headquarters remains in Ireland, a claim rejected by the Italian authorities who maintain jurisdiction over the case.