Observed Signal · Oct 5, 2023 · Regulation · Source: Trending Topics · Impact: 4/5 · Sentiment: Negative
Meta May Charge European Users for Ad-Free Facebook and Instagram
Meta is considering charging European users for ad-free access to Facebook and Instagram, according to a Wall Street Journal report. The reported plan follows EU data protection authorities in late 2022 prohibiting Meta from burying consent to personalized advertising in its terms of use. Meta would charge around €10 per month for desktop access and €13 per month for mobile, with €6 for each additional linked account. Users who explicitly consent to personalized ads would continue to use the platforms free of charge. Meta reportedly does not want to replace personalized ads with less lucrative non-personalized ads. The plan drew sharp criticism from privacy NGO noyb; founder Max Schrems called it an attack on fundamental rights and said his organization would fight it in court. Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg had previously floated a paid privacy option in 2018.
Meta's potential paid ad-free tiers in Europe, triggered by EU data protection rulings, could reshape the economics of social media advertising and establish a precedent for consent-based monetization industry-wide.
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Key Takeaways & Evidence Grounding
- According to the Wall Street Journal, Meta planned to charge about €10 per month for desktop and €13 per month for mobile access to ad-free Facebook and Instagram in Europe, plus €6 for each additional account.
- EU data protection authorities in late 2022 prohibited Meta from hiding consent to personalized advertising in its terms of use.
- Meta reportedly considered the paid option because it was not willing to replace personalized ads with lower-yield non-personalized ads.
- noyb founder Max Schrems criticized the plan as an attack on fundamental privacy rights and said noyb would challenge it in court.
- Mark Zuckerberg had already floated a paid, privacy-focused option for Facebook and Instagram in 2018.
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