By Foo Yun Chee
BRUSSELS (Reuters) – META SYSTEMS MODIFIED PAID AD-FREE SOLUTION MIGHT STILL VIOLATION EU PERSONAL PRIVACY, CUSTOMER LEGISLATIONS, CUSTOMER TEAM SAYS
CUSTOMER TEAM PROMPTS EU REGULATORS TO ACT VERSUS META
Meta Platforms’ changed no-ads membership solution might still breach EU customer and personal privacy legislations along with antitrust regulations, the European Consumer Organisation (BEUC) stated on Thursday as it advised regulatory authorities to act versus the united state technology titan.
Meta, which turned out the fee-based solution for Facebook and Instagram in 2023, ultimately used European customers the alternative to obtain much less personal advertisements and a 40% cut in the charges in 2014.
BEUC, which whined concerning the fee-based solution to customer defense authorities in 2023, stated the adjustments made in 2014 were aesthetic.
“In our view, the tech giant fails to address the fundamental issue that Facebook and Instagram users are not being presented with a fair choice and is making a weak bid to argue it is complying with EU law while still pushing users towards its behavioural ads system,” BEUC Director General Agustin Reyna stated.
“It is important for consumer and data protection authorities and the European Commission to quickly investigate Meta’s latest policy and, if needed, take immediate and effective measures to protect consumers,” he stated.
BEUC affirms that Meta’s deceptive techniques and vague terms guide customers in the direction of its favored alternative.
The customer team likewise stated it is not feasible for customers to openly grant their information being refined which Meta does not reduce the information it gathers from customers.
BEUC likewise charged Meta of weakening the solution to customers that do not accept using their individual information.
Meta has actually stated in 2014’s adjustments remained in reaction to needs from EU regulatory authorities. The firm was billed by EU antitrust regulatory authorities in July in 2014 for breaching the Digital Markets Act, stating its paid ad-free solution comprised a binary option for customers.
(Reporting byFoo Yun Chee Editing by Jane Merriman)
