Italian Regulator Fines Meta €805m for Unauthorised Access to 20 Million Users' Photos

Italy's data protection authority, Garante, has imposed a fine of €805m on Meta, the conglomerate behind Facebook and Instagram, following allegations that the company accessed the photo galleries of around 20 million users without proper disclosure.

The regulator stated that Meta's user agreement did not sufficiently inform individuals that the social media platforms had the capability to access and utilise their photographs. This action by Garante underscores a growing European scrutiny over the data handling practices of major technology firms, particularly concerning personal privacy.

This penalty adds to a series of substantial fines levied against Meta by European regulatory bodies in recent years, signalling a persistent challenge for the company in navigating the continent's stringent data protection landscape. Such regulatory interventions often highlight the tension between extensive data collection for profit and individual privacy rights, a debate central to Western digital policy.