9 months ago
Meta Offers EU Ad Choices
Meta, the company that owns Facebook and Instagram, has promised to give users in Europe a choice about how their data is used for ads.
Starting next January, people in the EU will be able to choose between sharing all their data for very personalized ads or sharing less data for less personalized ads.
This change is because of a new law in Europe called the Digital Markets Act.
Meta was already fined 200 million euros earlier this year for not following this law properly.
The European Data Protection Board, which is like the rule enforcer for data protection in the EU, said Meta must now give users a real choice about their data.
This is part of a bigger effort to make sure big tech companies follow the rules and protect people's data.
The new choice will allow users to opt out of the deep tracking that fuels personalised ads, which is a significant concession by Meta to European privacy rules.
Meta will offer EU users a choice between personalized ads with full data sharing or limited personalization with less data sharing.
The changes will be implemented in January 2025 to comply with the EU's Digital Markets Act.
Meta was fined 200 million euros in April for breaching the DMA from November 2023 to November 2024.
The European Data Protection Board (EDPB) issued a binding decision against Meta's data processing methods, threatening daily fines if not complied.
The new options will allow EU users to opt out of deep tracking for personalized ads, potentially impacting Meta's advertising revenue in the region.
- Who
- Meta (Facebook and Instagram users in the EU)
- What
- Meta will offer users in the EU a choice for sharing data for personalized advertising
- Where
- European Union
- When
- Implementation in January 2025
- Why
- To comply with the EU's Digital Markets Act and avoid severe financial penalties
Key facts
- Company
- Meta
- Region
- European Union
- Law
- Digital Markets Act
- Fine
- 200 million euros
- Implementation Date
- January 2025
- Platforms
- Facebook, Instagram
- Regulatory Body
- European Data Protection Board (EDPB)
Timeline
EU warns Meta: Pay or consent, or face daily fines.
Then, Meta caves, offers Europeans data sharing choice.
Starting 2023, users pick: all data or less for ads.
Quotes
European officials
Representatives of the European Union
“This update finally gives users a 'meaningful choice' about data-driven advertising—something they have demanded from major tech platforms for years.”
thehansindia.com
Meta
Parent company of Facebook and Instagram
“Personalised advertising remains crucial to Europe’s digital ecosystem. The company highlighted that its targeted ads generated €213 billion in economic activity last year and supported 1.44 million jobs across the EU.”
thehansindia.com
Sources
EU-Google antitrust case: European Commission opens probe against tech giant over market dominance using AI tools
Meta To Offer Choices on Personal Facebook, Instagram Ads in Europe
What EU’s $140M fine on X says about Elon Musk’s speech wars
Meta to use less user data for personalised ads, avoiding millions of dollars in EU fines
Meta to Let EU Users Control How Much Data They Share for Ads
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