# 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. - Title: Meta fined $887 million for Android photo access · Indiatimes - Summary: Italian regulator orders Meta to disable photo feature within 60 days after $887m penalty for unauthorised access. - Keywords: italian data regulator, meta, android users, photo access, consent, 60-day deadline, fine, data privacy, india, Indiatimes - Source: Indiatimes — https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/technology/tech-news/meta-fined-887-million-for-accessing-android-users-photos-italian-regulator-cites-lack-of-co-operation-gives-60-day-deadline-to-disable-the-feature/articleshow/135838931.cms - Author: TOI Tech Desk - Published: 2026-11-14T17:14:00+00:00 - Read time: 2 min - Topics: italian data regulator, meta, android users, photo access, consent, 60-day deadline, fine, data privacy, india, news ## 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 ## Key takeaway Italian data regulator fined Meta $887 million for accessing Android users' photos without consent, giving 60-day deadline to disable the feature.