Italy slaps Meta with €805mn fine over access to Android photos
Italy's data protection agency has imposed a €805 million fine on Meta for accessing Italian users' photos without consent.
The privacy infringement occurred through a Facebook feature that suggests photos from users' personal galleries for posting on the platform. Italian authorities stated Meta did this "without obtaining specific consent and without properly informing them." The fine, equal to 0.4% of Meta's annual turnover, is the largest ever imposed by Italian regulators on a big tech company.
Regulatory Action
Meta has 60 days to disable the camera roll suggestions feature and separately request permission from users for this function. The agency noted a "high number of people affected" by the ongoing privacy violation, which continues for users who haven't updated the app or previously consented to the system.
The privacy infringement was due to a feature on the Facebook app which suggests photos from users' personal galleries which they can then post on the social media platform.
Legal Dispute
Regulators began investigating Meta in July 2025, alleging the company didn't cooperate during the probe. Meta has not commented on the fine but may appeal. The company previously argued the case should fall under Irish jurisdiction where its European headquarters is located, a claim Italian regulators rejected.
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