Italy's data protection agency fined Meta Platforms 805 million euros ($887 million) on Saturday for allegedly accessing Android users' photographs and videos without their consent, through a Facebook app feature that suggested content from personal galleries for users to post.
The Italian authority said in a statement that Meta had access to Android users' photos and videos via a feature of the Facebook app that suggested content from users' personal galleries for them to post. Meta has 60 days to disable the feature by default and seek users' consent separately, the authority added.
The investigation, which began in 2025, did not cover the possible use of the content to train artificial intelligence models, a practice Meta denied, according to the authority. It said 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.
The fine is equivalent to about 0.47 percent of Meta's global revenue, the authority said. Meta was not immediately available for comment.
Analysis
Why This Matters
- The fine signals European regulators' willingness to impose significant penalties on tech giants for alleged data protection violations, even when the amount is a small fraction of global revenue.
- The case highlights ongoing scrutiny of how social media platforms access and use data from users' devices without explicit consent, an issue that affects millions of Android users.
- The separate assessment of the newer cloud-based gallery feature suggests regulators are watching how Meta evolves its data practices.
Background
Italy's data protection authority has been investigating Meta's handling of Android users' data since 2025. The fine follows a pattern of European regulators taking action against major tech companies under the EU's General Data Protection Regulation, which allows fines of up to 4 percent of global annual turnover.
Key Perspectives
Italian data protection authority: says Meta accessed Android users' photographs and videos without obtaining their consent or informing them, through a Facebook app feature that suggested content from personal galleries for users to post.
Meta: denied using the content to train AI models. The company was not immediately available for comment on the fine.
What to Watch
- Whether Meta appeals the fine or complies within the 60-day window.
- The authority's separate assessment of the cloud-based gallery feature launched in 2026.
- Potential further investigations or fines from other European regulators into similar practices.
Checked
8 claims in this story checked against 1 source: 8 supported.
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- SupportedItaly fined Meta 805 million euros, reported as $887 million.US Top News and Analysis: “Italy's data protection agency said on Saturday it had fined Meta Platforms 805 million euros ($887 million)”
- SupportedThe fine was for allegedly accessing Android users’ photos and videos without obtaining consent or informing them.US Top News and Analysis: “for allegedly accessing Android users' photographs and videos without obtaining their consent or informing them.”
- SupportedThe Facebook app feature suggested content from users’ personal galleries for them to post.US Top News and Analysis: “Meta had access to Android users' photos and videos through a Facebook app feature that suggested content from users' personal galleries for them to post, the authority said in a statement.”
- SupportedThe authority said Meta had 60 days to disable the feature by default and seek users’ consent separately.US Top News and Analysis: “Meta has 60 days to disable the feature by default and seek users' consent separately, it added”
- SupportedThe investigation began in 2025 and did not cover possible use of the content to train AI models, which Meta denied.US Top News and Analysis: “The investigation, which began in 2025, did not cover the possible use of the content to train artificial intelligence models, a practice Meta denied, the authority said.”
- SupportedThe authority reserved the right to assess separately a new feature launched in 2026 that allows gallery content to be processed in the cloud.US Top News and Analysis: “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.”
- SupportedThe fine equals about 0.47 percent of Meta’s global revenue.US Top News and Analysis: “The fine is equivalent to about 0.47% of the group's global revenue, the authority said.”
- SupportedMeta was not immediately available for comment.US Top News and Analysis: “Meta was not immediately available for comment.”
