From Indiatimes · TOI Tech Desk · · 2m
Meta fined $887 million for Android photo access
Italian regulator orders Meta to disable photo feature within 60 days after $887m penalty for unauthorised access.
In brief
Italian regulator orders Meta to disable photo feature within 60 days after $887m penalty for unauthorised access. Italian data regulator fined Meta $887 million for accessing Android users' photos without consent, giving 60-day deadline to disable the feature. Originally reported by Indiatimes.
Italian regulator fines Meta
Italian regulators have fined Meta $887 million for accessing Android smartphone users' photos and videos without their specific consent.
“Meta has been fined in Italy”
Feature accessed without consent
The regulator said Meta accessed photos and videos without obtaining user consent or informing them.
“the company had accessed android users photographs and videos without obtaining their consent or informing them”
20 million users affected
Italy's Data Protection Authority reported Meta did not properly inform 20 million smartphone users about access to their photos and videos.
“the regulator said that meta did not properly inform about 2.0 million smartphone users that it had access to their photos and videos”
60-day deadline to disable
Meta receives 60 days to disable the feature by default and seek separate user consent for access.
“the regulator has given meta sixty days to disable the feature by default and seek users consent separately for access”
Feature suggests photos for posts
The feature suggests photos and videos from users' phone galleries as ideas for social media posts.
“a feature which suggests photos and videos from a user's phone gallery as ideas for posts”
Single app-wide authorization
Facebook requested access to users' photo galleries through a single app-wide authorization.
“facebook requested access to users photo galleries through a single app wide authorization”
Regulator's concerns
The regulator cited 'lack of co-operation' and the high number of people affected by the feature.
“the regulator said that it took into account the high number of people affected and the fact it is still ongoing for those who have not updated the app”
Investigation timeline
The investigation began in 2025 and did not cover possible use of content for training artificial intelligence models.
“the investigation which began in 2025 did not cover the possible use of the content to train artificial intelligence models”
Meta denies AI use
Meta denied using the content to train artificial intelligence models, which the regulator noted.
“a practice meta denied”
Cloud processing feature
The regulator reserved the right to assess a new feature that processes user gallery content in the cloud.
“it added that it reserved the right to assess separately a new feature launched in 2026 that allows content from users galleries to be processed in the cloud”
New Mexico fine
Meta was previously fined $25 billion by a US judge in New Mexico for data handling practices.
“in october meta was hit with its largest fine ever for its business practices”
New Mexico case
The New Mexico case involved allegations that Cambridge Analytica obtained data from millions of Facebook users without consent.
“a case related to allegations that cambridge analytica a british political consulting company involved in donald trump's 2016 presidential campaign obtained data from millions of facebook users without their consent”
Judge's ruling
Judge Francis Mathew ruled Meta lied to Facebook users in New Mexico about data access.
“facebook's wrongdoing over the course of years and systematically broadcast to the public goes to the heart of facebook's core business practices”
Meta's response
Meta has not publicly responded to the Italian regulator's fine or deadline.
“meta gets 60-day deadline”
Regulator's next steps
The regulator will assess Meta's compliance with the 60-day deadline and cloud processing feature.
“the regulator has given meta sixty days to disable the feature by default and seek users consent separately for access”
The big picture
Italian data regulator fined Meta $887 million for accessing Android users' photos without consent, giving 60-day deadline to disable the feature.
