Meta appeals €805 million Italian data privacy fine over gallery access
Meta will appeal an €805 million fine issued by Italy's privacy regulator over a Facebook feature that accessed photos and videos from 20 million Android users without explicit consent.
Meta has confirmed it will appeal an €805 million fine imposed by Italy's Data Protection Authority over unauthorized access to device media. The penalty, announced by the Italian regulator, targets a Facebook Android feature introduced in 2023 titled "Get suggestions from your gallery when browsing Facebook."
According to the authority, the tool accessed photos, videos, and associated metadata belonging to approximately 20 million Italian Android users without obtaining explicit prior consent or providing adequate disclosures. The regulator ordered Meta to revise the feature to require affirmative opt-ins. Meta maintains that the system complied with legal requirements and announced plans to challenge the decision in court. The fine represents one of the largest regulatory penalties issued against the tech giant under European privacy rules.
Sources: Il Messaggero, La Tribune, Le Soir, ORF, RTBF Info
Sources
- Le Soir — Meta écope d’une amende de 805 millions d’euros en Italie
- RTBF Info — Meta écope d'une amende de 805 millions d'euros en Italie pour avoir accédé à des photos sans consentement - RTBF Actus
- Il Messaggero — Meta, multa da 805 milioni: «Accesso a foto e video degli utenti senza consenso». L'azienda: faremo ricorso
- ORF — Datenschutz: 805 Millionen Euro Strafe für Meta in Italien
- La Tribune — Facebook : Meta écope d'une lourde amende de 805 millions d'euros en Italie pour avoir accédé à des photos sans consentement
Earlier coverage
- Nov 14, 2026, 05:00 PM UTCItaly fines Meta €805 million over unauthorized photo access