15.11.2026 00:20
Italy's Data Protection Authority fined Meta 805 million euros on the grounds that Facebook accessed photos and videos on Android users' phones without obtaining specific consent. The ruling, which concerns approximately 20 million users, also ordered that the gallery suggestions feature launched in 2023 be disabled within 60 days.
The Italian Data Protection Authority (Garante della Privacy) fined Meta 805 million euros on the grounds that “Facebook” accessed photos and videos in Android users' galleries without specific consent.
A 60-DAY PERIOD WAS GIVEN
In a written statement from the Authority, it was stated that Meta's Ireland-based company was fined 805 million euros on the grounds that the Facebook application accessed photos and videos in Android users' galleries without obtaining specific consent, and it was ruled that the feature that does not require such consent be disabled within 60 days.
It was stated that the basis of the fine was that the Facebook application accessed photos, videos and related data stored on the smartphones of Italian users with Android devices without obtaining specific consent and without sufficiently informing users.
It was reported that this decision relates to the “get recommendations from your gallery while browsing Facebook” feature made available as of 2023.
It was noted that the investigation into this feature of the application was launched upon a report made by the Bolzano Consumer Rights Protection Center in July 2025.
20 MILLION USERS WERE TAKEN INTO ACCOUNT
In the Authority's statement, it was reported that criteria such as the presence of approximately 20 million Android users in Italy, the duration of the violation, a previous measure taken against the company in 2019, and lack of cooperation during the investigation were taken into account when determining the amount of the fine.
In the statement, it was indicated that the fine imposed is equal to approximately 0.47 percent of the group's worldwide turnover.