As they argue, imposing a subscription on Facebook and Instagram users does not put an end to the processing of personal data
Consumer associations in eight European countries, including Greece, appealed today to data protection authorities against Meta’s paid subscription system on Facebook and Instagram, which they say violates EU rules.
For these organizations, this system of paying to avoid being targeted by ads is “a smokescreen intended to distract the consumer from the unfair processing of their personal data.” Since November, Meta has offered European Facebook and Instagram users a choice between continuing to use the services for free, agreeing to hand over their personal data to receive targeted ads, or paying a subscription to not see no more ads.
This formula was presented by the US tech giant as a way to comply with European rules on the processing of personal data, which have already cost it convictions and fines. But Meta is again accused of violating the provisions of the General Data Protection Regulation (RGPD).
“This kind of business model, which is based on surveillance, creates all kinds of problems in relation to the RGPD. It’s time for the data protection authorities to put an end to Meta’s abusive data processing and violation of users’ fundamental rights, says Ursula Pahl, deputy director general of the European Bureau of Consumer Unions (BEUC).
The associations’ appeals are filed in coordination with the data protection authorities in France, Slovenia, Spain, Slovakia, Denmark, Norway, Greece and the Czech Republic. The decision will be made centrally and rests in principle with the Irish data protection authority, since Meta’s European headquarters are located in that country.
